An online romance fell at the first hurdle after a Fife woman ended up slapping and biting her Forfar Romeo when she snapped in a row over dog treats.
Terri Walker took her two dogs from Glenrothes to Angus for a weekend stayover but Martin Gray riled the 40-year-old by over-pampering the pooches and she launched an attack which left him covered in teeth marks.
Walker, of Ravenswood Drive, Glenrothes appeared before Sheriff Pino Di Emidio at Forfar sheriff court where she admitted assaulting Mr Gray at a house in the town’s Stedfast Lane on May 29 by repeatedly slapping him on the head and body and repeatedly biting him on the body to his injury.
Depute fiscal Kirsten Thomson said the pair had formed an online relationship and, having met on one previous occasion, Walker travelled to Forfar after taking up an invitation to stay.
The couple went out to the pub, returning around midnight and were joined by another person.
“They were enjoying a drink, but around two hours later she began to have a row over the belief that the complainer had been spoiling her dogs by giving them treats,” added Ms Thomson.
“She bit him on the arms and torso and Mr Gray shouted for the other man to phone the police,” the court heard.
“The other man came down and saw the accused and Mr Gray in the kitchen – she was still slapping him on the face and torso while shouting something about her dogs.”
Police arrived and although the victim did not require medical treatment, numerous bite marks were evident.
Defence solicitor Ian Flynn said: “The male friend she hadn’t known for long. He had been drinking from the early morning and that caused a disagreement to start because of the dogs.
“She was then telephoned by a friend and he took umbrage at that, called her some derogatory terms and she snapped.
“The relationship has not proceeded beyond that date,” added Mr Flynn.
“She has nothing on her record and at 40 to get this is a shame.”
Sheriff De Emidio told Walker: “Fortunately the injury did not require medical treatment.”
He fined Walker £240.
