A young woman who stamped on the head of a pal and head butted a police officer in a drunken street attack has narrowly avoided a prison sentence.
First offender Rachel Sturrock had been recommended as a potential candidate for a deferral of sentence, but after hearing the circumstances of the September incident outside De Vito’s nightclub in Arbroath a sheriff said the 20-year-old’s “simply outrageous” behaviour merited more serious punishment.
Sturrock, of Newton Crescent, Arbroath pleaded guilty to stamping on her friend’s head to her injury in the town’s Millgate, assaulting a police officer by headbutting him and behaving in a threatening manner while being taken to Dundee police HQ on September 15.
Depute fiscal Stewart Duncan said the incident happened just after 2am when officers on mobile patrol outside the nightclub saw the complainer in a distressed state, crying and without any shoes on.
She told police she had been in an argument with Sturrock, but then ran off before falling to the ground.
“While on the ground she grabbed a handful of broken glass and, concerned by her actions, police held her arms and tried to get the glass from her hands,” said the fiscal.
“The accused then approached, they started shouting at each other again and she stood on the complainer’s head.”
Sturrock was arrested and as she was being put in the back of a police vehicle swore at officers before head butting a male PC.
“Due to her intoxicated state she was kept in custody and released when she was sober,” added the fiscal.
Defence solicitor Angela McLardy said her client and the victim had been friends for many years and Sturrock was “highly embarrassed” by the offence.
“The only explanation was alcohol, and she recognises that is no real excuse, but it is not something she is going to be repeating.”
Sheriff Alison McKay said: “I recognise that you are a first offender, but the charges take you well above a low tariff deferred sentence or deferral.
“These offences are simply outrageous. They are serious offences of violence.
“You are lucky that the complainer only suffered a cut to her head, because the outcome could have been so much worse.”
Sturrock was ordered to complete 150 hours unpaid work under a 12-month Community Payback Order.
“I make it clear to you that I am imposing this order as a direct alternative to custody,” the sheriff added.
