Woman jailed over glass attack on aunt

Aug 8 2008 by Les Stewart, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

A WOMAN who “glassed” her aunt in a Perth pub during a family argument – scarring her for life – was given six months’ detention at the Sheriff Court on Wednesday.

Colleen Mallis, (20), of Strathmore Avenue, Coupar Angus, was also ordered to pay £2000 in compensation after the attack in Craigie, on January 26 this year.

The court was told that victim Carol Ann Petrie suffered two facial scars which were treated at Perth Royal Infirmary.

One, measuring 5-6cm in length, required five stitches, and the second, 2-3cm long and between her eyebrows, needed three stitches. She also suffered bruising to her right eye and swelling to her right cheek. It was later discovered she had a fractured eye socket.

Mallis pleaded guilty to the alcohol-fuelled assault, which left her aunt severely injured and permanently disfigured.

Depute fiscal Chris Mackintosh said that the accused and the victim had been drinking in the Abbotsford bar and seemed to be enjoying each other’s company, but then an argument broke out around 11.30pm.

That escalated and the victim slapped the accused on the face. The accused immediately retaliated and struck the victim a blow on the face with a glass tumbler she had been drinking from.

Solicitor Steve Lafferty said that the accused became involved in a “fairly heated” argument with her dad when her aunt interjected and slapped the accused on the face in a bid to calm her down.

“She has consistently expressed remorse for her actions,” added Mr Lafferty. Since the incident, she had moved to her mother’s house in Coupar Angus.

Mallis, a bakery assistant, had referred herself to a group in Perth to help with anger management and alcohol counselling.

Passing sentence, Sheriff Robert McCreadie said: “This was an unjustified and disgraceful response which could easily have resulted in the loss of your aunt’s eye.”

The compensation will be paid at the rate of £240 a month, starting from January 28 next year, giving the accused time to complete her sentence and find another job.