A Fife mum whose horrifying bus station attack ended in a woman cutting part of her own ear off must complete unpaid work.
Samantha Ellis’ victim removed part of her own ear with a kitchen knife after being savagely beaten on Hogmanay.
The 31-year-old, of Auchmuty Drive in Glenrothes, repeatedly punched and kicked her victim and struck her head on concrete “many times” during the shocking incident at Glenrothes Bus Station.
Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court heard she was left with part of her ear hanging off.
Ellis previously appeared in the dock to plead guilty to a charge of assault to severe injury and permanent disfigurement.
She has now been sentenced to two years of supervision.
Sheriff Alastair Brown also ordered her to complete 140 hours of unpaid work.
‘Self-medicated’ ear wound
Procurator fiscal depute Jamie Hilland previously told the court just before 9pm on December 31 2021 Ms Stevenson was at Glenrothes bus station after a night out.
Ellis, a stranger, approached and Ms Stevenson then appeared to throw a punch at her, before they became tangled and fell to the ground.
He said: “The accused is on top of Ms Stevenson and carries out a sustained attack, punching her to the face and head and takes hold of her head and bangs it off the concrete many times.”
Witnesses intervened and Ellis left.
The fiscal depute said one witness saw a large laceration to the victim’s ear, with a section “hanging off” and “bleeding heavily”.
Police took her to Kirkcaldy’s Victoria Hospital due to lengthy ambulance waiting times.
A detective constable made contact with her on January 2 to take a statement and noted the top part of her ear was missing.
She had apparently left hospital due to long waiting times and returned home.
Mr Hilland added: “Ms Stevenson suffered a large laceration to the top of her left ear which led to a portion hanging off and hanging on by cartilage.
“She removed part of her ear with a kitchen knife.”
She also suffered bruising to the face and swelling to areas of her head.
‘Always accepted responsibility’
Defence solicitor Lynn Herbert said: “She (Ellis) had been assaulted herself quite seriously two days beforehand by her partner.”
Ms Herbert said this had resulted in a prison sentence for the man.
“She didn’t think she’d had a lot to drink.
“She’s always accepted responsibility for this.
“Ms Ellis has not had her troubles to seek over the years.”
Sheriff Brown told her: “I recognise that you have your difficulties and I recognise that they have been significant difficulties.”
He imposed the sentence as a direct alternative to custody.
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