GOUROCK WOMAN SPARED JAIL FOR HEADBUTT ASSAULT WHICH KNOCKED EX-PARTNER UNCONSCIOUS
A Gourock woman who knocked her ex-partner unconscious in a violent headbutting assault has avoided jail time.Renais MacLachlan severely injured the woman during an incident at her home in Shore Street on September 6 last year.
The 25-year-old repeatedly struck the victim’s head with her own head, rendering her unconscious.
Greenock Sheriff Court heard the woman required hospital treatment, having suffered bruising to her neck and face – as well as a one-centimetre laceration to her forehead.
MacLachlan pleaded guilty to the indictment charge through defence solicitor Edward Sweeney at a hearing last month.
She returned to the dock for sentencing this week, with Sheriff Anthony McGeehan having previously called for a background report to be prepared by social workers.
Mr Sweeney noted that while MacLachlan does have a criminal record, she has never before been sentenced to a period in custody.
The court heard MacLachlan’s position was that a physical altercation had taken place after the woman poured the contents of a dog bowl over her.
In the course of the struggle, she ended up on top of her victim and thereafter delivered the blows with her head.
Mr Sweeney said: “There’s an acceptance that what took place when Ms MacLachlan was on top of the complainer is not defensible in law.” The lawyer urged Sheriff McGeehan to steer away from imposing a custodial sentence, saying this would be ‘catastrophic’ for his client given her personal circumstances.
In sentencing MacLachlan, Sheriff McGeehan warned her that her conduct had surpassed the threshold for jail time.
He told her that while she had been assessed as suitable for a community-based disposal by social workers, his decision should be seen as ‘detracting from the seriousness of the offence’.
MacLachlan was ordered to complete 180 hours of unpaid work within 12 months for the assault.
During this time, she will remain under the supervision of social workers.
She will also be required to wear an electronic tag and adhere to a nightly curfew for the next nine months.
Sheriff McGeehan also made a non-harassment order which forbids MacLachlan from approaching or contacting the woman for five years.
