Woman in Wick avoids jail term over knife assault on ex partner

A Wick woman who struck her former partner with a knife has avoided a prison sentence.

Lianna Gunn, who claimed she had acted under provocation, was ordered to carry out 150 hours of unpaid community work, under supervision.

The 34-year-old admitted having assaulted her former partner, David MacGregor, to his injury and permanent disfigurement at their then home in Osbourne Close, Wick, on December 5, 2020.

Fiscal David Barclay told Wick Sheriff Court on Wednesday that there had been "some heavy drinking" in the course of the evening which he said was why recollections were "somewhat hazy".

He continued: "There was an argument which seemed to get out of control and so far as the accused is concerned, led to her picking up a small potato knife and striking Mr MacGregor twice, once on his left buttock and once on his left forearm."

The wound damaged a nerve in his forearm resulting in him not having the full use of his hand. He had experienced a loss of feeling and was required to use a support for it.

Mr Barclay said that the accused herself suffered a number of injuries and told police officers that the incident had not been "a one way street".

The fiscal continued: "This was a situation where, because of the drunken background, the precise details of how this incident arose are unclear."

Solicitor Fiona MacDonald said that Gunn's position was that she had been the victim of a sustained attack by Mr MacGregor on the day in question.

Miss MacDonald continued: "The accused believes that she lost consciousness on the kitchen floor. She came round and picked up the knife. Mr MacGregor was in the lobby area. She may have thought that he was going to lunge at her and she reacted. She accepts she should not have done so."

Sheriff Gerrard Sinclair interjected: "She responded to a concern that she was going to be attacked and acted in self-defence?"

Miss MacDonald: "That was discussed and it led to provocation being specified in her defence."

The court heard that Gunn, of Willowbank, Wick, had a number of issues in her life but was regarded as being of a low risk of re-offending.

Sheriff Sinclair commented that offences of this nature, involving a weapon, invariably attracted a custodial sentence.

However, he referred to a favourable background report which also dealt with the difficulties Gunn had experienced in the past two or three years and added that he was prepared to impose a community-based alternative to custody.