Wick mum-of-three jailed for pub glass attack
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A drunken Wick woman who attacked a pub patron with a glass has been jailed for eight months.
Mother-of-three Shauna Cassidy – whose actions, it was said, would leave Lewis Cowie with a permanent scar – was tearful as she was led away to the holding cell beneath the town's sheriff court.
The pint glass she used shattered on impact, Sheriff Mark Lindsay was told on Tuesday, and Mr Cowie required treatment at hospital.
The incident occurred outside the front entrance to the Queen's Hotel, Wick, on Novermber 29, last year. A group of four men including the victim, who were working in the area at the time, had gone to the hotel to watch football and enjoy a few drinks.
Initially, things were friendly and they interacted with the accused. However, the mood changed after Cassidy (28) became "a general nuisance," badgering and annoying customers.
Fiscal David Barclay said that the accused's behaviour was such that it prompted one of the group of four to ask the barman if he would like her ejected from the premises. The offer was not taken up.
The fiscal continued: "The barman observed Cassidy leave the bar holding a pint glass. The four friends were standing outside the front entrance smoking and having a general conversation. The accused began to make some derogatory comments about a member of the group and Mr Cowie cautioned her about her behaviour. Cassidy didn't hold back and struck him in the face with the glass which shattered on impact. The force used was enough to knock Mr Cowie's spectacles off."
Mr Cowie immediately started to bleed and was taken to a bathroom in the hotel to get cleaned up while one of his mates contacted the police.
He was taken to Caithness General Hospital where his wound, a cut across the right eyebrow, described as "moderate in depth", was cleaned and glued. He was advised that the cut would leave a permanent scar.
Cassidy, of Cairndhuna Terrace, Wick, later handed herself into the police at the local station and she was arrested. She was subsequently charged with an assault to injury and replied: "I don't remember pint-glassing anyone. I don't remember."
The court was told that the following day, Cassidy committed another offence for which she was ordered to carry out unpaid work while under supervision.
Solicitor Fiona MacDonald, who entered a plea of guilty to the glass assault on the accused's behalf, said that her life had "gone downhill" during the past year and she had been engaged in a "toxic" relationship.
Miss MacDonald continued: "Cassidy knows she has to address mental health difficulties and she is trying her best to engage with the authorities. She realises she requires to cease alcohol and illicit substances."
Miss MacDonald added: "She was at the hotel drinking and has no recollection after that."
The solicitor appreciated that the assault might warrant a custodial sentence but appealed to Sheriff Lindsay to consider additional unpaid work.
Sheriff Lindsay, who saw a background report, said he had taken its contents into account along with the "eloquent" mitigation put forward.
However, he told Cassidy, who has a previous record of offending: "You struck a man in the face with a glass with considerable force and having regard to the seriousness of that assault and the permanent injury your victim has been left with, I am satisfied that it is appropriate to impose a custodial sentence. It would originally been one of a year but, having regard to your early plea, I will restrict it to one of eight months."
