A young woman who subjected a friend to an horrific attack has been given a chance by a sheriff to make a lifestyle change.
During the drink and drug-fuelled assault, Kirsty Gallacher pushed Zoe Gardner down stairs, repeatedly hit her with a mobile phone, gouged her eyes, pushed her to the floor and kicked her on the head.
Ms Gardner had no lasting effects with the exception of a scar above her right eye – but was said to have been scared to go out at night and was nervous about any sounds she heard.
Gallacher, 21, admitted a charge of assault to permanent disfigurement, on indictment. She was ordered to carry out 150 hours unpaid community work and will be under supervision.
The incident occurred at Ms Gardner’s home in Corner Crescent, Wick, on September 15 last year. She had been entertaining friends including Gallacher. They all subsequently left but Gallacher returned in the early hours and words were exchanged.
During the assault, the accused tried to damage Miss Gardner’s eyes, pressing her thumbs down on them.
Eventually, Ms Gardner managed to push Gallacher aside and succeeded in getting her out of the house.
Fiscal Fraser Matheson said that despite the severity of the attack, Ms Gardner did not lose her sight or suffer any long term effects apart from a half-inch scar above her right eye.
Gallacher told police: “I am so sorry this has happened. I love that girl to bits.”
Sheriff Andrew Berry said that such a crime would normally attract a custodial sentence but made the point that he was duty bound to consider an alternative particularly when Gallacher was young, remorseful and had been on remand for more than four months.
He said that unpaid work would allow the accused to make a fresh start and enable her to address problem issues but added that she would have to be “very careful” how she conducted her life in the future.
The supervision order will be reviewed in a month.