Assault stopped traffic

Concerned motorists driving along a Stirling road stopped their cars when they saw a woman being viciously attacked in the street.

Attacker Lesley Verhees had seized her victim’s hair and struck her face off the ground at Cornton Road on September 30 last year after repeatedly punching her.

The complainer was later treated in hospital for swelling and bruising to her head.

Thirty-five-year-old Verhees, of Keir Avenue, Raploch, had admitted a charge of assault to injury.

Stirling Sheriff Court was told on Wednesday that Verhees’partner had been having a relationship with the complainer.

Fiscal depute Lindsey Brooks said that a former accused and Verhees had approached Verhees’partner and the other woman, adding: “There was some conversation between these individuals and the accused appeared to grab [the woman] by her hair.

“She was then seen to punch her head and face multiple times.

“This was seen by witnesses driving past. One of the witnesses stopped and intervened.

“Traffic had stopped in both directions.”

Witnesses, who had got out of their vehicles, then saw Verhees go for the woman again, grabbing her by the hair and striking her face on the kerb.

Ms Brooks added that“the same individual who had intervened before intervened again and pulled Verhees away.”

Verhees left the scene and police were contacted. When officers traced Verhees at her home address, she told them she had‘f ****** licked’ the complainer.

The victim was treated at Forth Valley Royal Hospital for swelling and bruising.

Verhees’agent Frazer Mccready told Sheriff Derek Hamilton he accepted it was“a nasty offence” and one which would attract a jail sentence. However, a non-custodial option was available.

When officers came to her door Verhees’comments, he said, had been an admission of guilt rather than boasting.

Verhees and her partner had been having an“on-off” relationship. Mr Mccready described Verhees as“long suffering”.

She had confronted her partner in the street“not necessarily to confront the complainer”and“the red mist came down”.

He also pointed out that Verhees was remorseful. Her partner was now living with her and helping with the care of children.

Sheriff Hamilton said the offence was“clearly significant”, having stopped traffic in both directions, and a previous conviction for assault was concerning.

However, he was persuaded to impose a community payback order – as a direct alternative to custody – comprising two years’supervision and 200 hours’unpaid work to be completed within 12 months.