Inverness Sheriff Court hears woman was stabbed in the face by another woman armed with a screwdriver
A woman who stabbed another woman on the face with a screwdriver has escaped jail at Inverness Sheriff Court. (Thursday May 30)
Gemma MacLennan (37) of The Riggs, Fort Augustus, appeared for sentence after admitting the assault to injury at an earlier hearing when background reports were requested.
Fiscal depute Adelle Gray told the court there was a background between MacLennan and the victim, Lisa MacDiarmid, and on the day in question both women were driving separately to The Riggs where they lived.
Ms Gray said witnesses spoke of seeing MacLennan gesturing with both hands at Ms MacDiarmid who a short time later stopped her car near her home.
She then became aware of MacLennan banging on the car window and when the car door was opened she was confronted by her attacker who was drunk and holding a yellow handled screwdriver in her right hand.
The fiscal depute said MacLennan lunged towards Ms MacDiarmid’s body with the tool, then struck her with it on the right cheek causing a puncture wound.
Defence solicitor Natalie Paterson began her plea in mitigation by telling Sheriff Eilidh MacDonald that the background report was largely positive, at which point the sheriff remarked: “Apart from the fact that she can’t remember anything about the incident.”
Ms Paterson said MacLennan doesn’t recall most of what happened, but has “taken full responsibility for her actions.”
She also pointed out that her client was a first offender and in employment.
Sheriff MacDonald told MacLennan: “Whatever happened between the two of you didn’t justify you stabbing her on the face with a screwdriver.
“This was very dangerous and very serious thing to do and I have to take that into account. I could send you to jail for this, do you understand that?”
MacLennan replied that she did, but was sentenced to carry out 270 hours community work as a direct alternative to custody and must be completed within one year.
