A woman hooked her cousin by the mouth with her finger during a hair-grabbing “struggle” which left her relative so scared that she locked herself in a car, a court has been told.
Debbie Baillie, 21, pulled her family member by the hair, injured her lip and scratched her eyelid and face during the “struggle” on a housing estate in Rothes, Moray.
Baillie’s cousin was so alarmed at the attack that she sought refuge in her locked car, which the offender kicked as she hurled abuse at the vehicle’s occupant.
The Police were called by concerned passers-by, who were worried by what they had witnessed, Elgin Sheriff Court was told.
The 21-year-old was initially charged with a breach of the peace, before telling police “I was fighting with my cousin,” an admission which led to an assault to injury charge instead.
Fiscal depute Naomi Duffy-Welsh said the pair had been socialising together at Baillie’s home in Rothes, before the cousin drove them both to her own house on Provost Christie Drive, at about 4pm on May 28 last year.
‘Hooked her finger in her mouth’
“Whilst there, they began a verbal disagreement and this continued for some time, until the accused left the property,” the fiscal said. “A short time later, she returned, stating that she had written-off the woman’s car.
“The complainer went outside to check on her car and whilst outside, the accused grabbed her by the hair and a struggle ensued.
“She scratched her to the face, causing injury to her left eyelid. She then hooked her finger in the complainer’s mouth, causing injury to her upper lip.
“The complainer broke free and locked herself in her own vehicle. The accused kicked the car and hurled abuse at her.”
Police received a call about an ongoing disturbance outside the Provost Christie Drive address and arrived to sort things out.
At that point, Baillie cooperated and told them she’d been fighting with her cousin.
But she soon changed tact and hurled abuse at officers, calling them “mongols and spastics”.
The expectant mother was also sentenced for a careless driving charge, after police saw her carry out unsafe overtakes and speeding at 75mph on the A86, near Alves on February 2 2020.
‘Struggling with illicit drug use’
Defence agent Paul Canavan said she’d been “struggling with illicit drug use” at the time of both incidents but was now drug-free and six months pregnant.
Baillie, now of Broomfield Square, Aberlour, admitted two charges of threatening and abusive behaviour and one of assault to injury.
She also admitted further charges of careless driving, driving without learner plates and without insurance.
Sheriff Robert McDonald banned her from driving for one year and ordered she must sit an extended test to regain her licence.
Baillie was also handed a total of 200 hours unpaid work and placed under supervision for one year.
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