A fan of The Hunger Games film franchise who took on the main character’s name has avoided jail – despite unleashing an unprovoked attack on a man at a Fife train station.
Katniss Everdeen, 48, appeared at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court where she admitted assaulting her victim at Ladybank Railway Station on June 14 2018.
Everdeen, of Bangor Road, Edinburgh, is understood to have changed her name four years ago in honour of the leading figure from the hit film franchise, even taking the middle name Mockingjay, the symbolic nickname of the character played by Jennifer Lawrence.
While the fictional heroine of Suzanne Collins’ books is all too aware of the fight to the death in which she becomes involved, the court heard how the “real life” Everdeen has absolutely no recollection of last summer’s incident.
It was only after CCTV emerged she was able to confess what she had done.
Footage captured Everdeen pacing the platform in an agitated state on the evening in question before becoming aggressive towards her victim.
The footage then showed her striking him with her knee and punching him, before both parties fell to the ground during a struggle.
The victim managed to pin Everdeen to the ground with his hands and knees, but she was seen to break free and move away before a train pulled into the platform.
The court previously heard Everdeen had smelled of alcohol and suffered from mental health issues and a personality disorder.
Solicitor David Bell, acting on behalf of Everdeen’s principal agents, said his client could not remember the incident and could not even explain why she was at the train station, although she had expressed regret for her behaviour.
He also pointed to a report from social workers which highlighted voluntary work being carried out in Edinburgh by Everdeen.
Sheriff Alison McKay imposed a community payback order with 12 months’ supervision, and ordered Everdeen to carry out 90 hours of unpaid work within six months.
She said: “It seems that this was an unprovoked attack on someone you did not know and therefore you need to be aware I’m imposing this as a direct alternative to custody.”
