No jail for Thurso woman after glass attack
A Thurso woman who carried out a glass assault at her home has avoided a jail sentence.
Estelle Sutherland (37) was instead ordered to carry out 220 hours of unpaid work by Sheriff Neil Wilson who gave her credit for having "turned her life around".
The incident occurred at the accused's home in Royal Terrace, Thurso on June 7, 2022, while Sutherland and the victim, another woman, were enjoying a glass of wine.
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Fiscal Depute Grant McLennan told Wick Sheriff Court that a glass of wine was spilled during the evening.
The victim tried to clean it up with a cloth but Sutherland "didn't approve" of this course of action and insisted she would deal with it herself.
Mr McLennan told the court that Sutherland waved a mop in the other woman’s face. She then tried to take the mop from Sutherland and a struggle ensued, culminating in Sutherland striking the other woman in the face with a glass which broke on contact.
A third woman present intervened and the police were summoned.
The woman hit with the glass was treated by paramedics at the scene and didn't require further treatment in hospital.
Police officers who arrived at the scene found "clear signs" of a disturbance having taken place in the kitchen, with broken glass and food strewn about and evidence of blood.
When cautioned and charged, Sutherland replied: "I didn't smash her with a glass, she tried to hit me with a bottle."
Sheriff Wilson who saw a background report told Sutherland - who admitted the assault on indictment - that she had turned her life around and that to save her further distress he was not going to send her to prison.
Sutherland will be under supervision while she carries out her unpaid work.