A former hairdresser accused of snipping her boyfriend’s penis with a pair of scissors walked free today after a court heard the supposed victim was “reluctant” to give evidence about what was alleged to have happened.
Helen Smith, 48, who was accused of grabbing her man’s member and cutting it with the household implements at her home in Cardenden, Fife, was found formally not guilty at Dunfermline Sheriff Court after the man, Stuart Cooper, failed to attend.
The incident last August [2014] was said to have left Mr Cooper “hurt” but the court heard today he did not want the matter to proceed.
Fiscal, Azra Yousaff, made a Crown motion to adjourn the case due to the absence of Mr Cooper.said: “The witness was cited in the usual postal fashion.
“He may be aware of today’s trial.
“He is a reluctant witness.
“He did not want the matter to proceed.”
Yvonne McKenna, defending, opposed the motion.said: “I have a letter that the complainer wrote to my firm.
“He said he made no complaint or statement.
“He had no wish for this matter to proceed.”
She added that the case was putting Miss Smith “under enormous pressure”.
She added: “She is suffering from a depressive illness.
“She has been unable to work and her job is in jeopardy due to the press and media coverage.”
The offence had been alleged to have occurred on 26th August last year (2014).
Sheriff Ian Anderson rejected the Crown motion for the case to be continued, and found Smith, of Carden Castle Park, Cardenden, Fife not guilty.
Outside the court, Smith’s brother-in-law, Alex Milne, 55, of Cardenden said “she was a nice woman” and “very rarely had a boyfriend.”
He said: “They were together for about a year but now he’s away to England.”
He also confirmed that Smith was formerly a hairdresser but now has a job in Tesco.