A drunken woman carried out a bottle attack on a grandmother who had been out for a meal with her family at a Wetherspoon’s pub.
Durham Crown Court heard that there was some “unpleasantness” involving another customer, Lisa Wilson, and the grandmother in the family group, at The Grand Electric Hall, in Spennymoor.
Although Wilson was asked to leave by the bar manager, the complainant and her family decided to go to keep the peace.
But as they drove to the end of the road to turn and leave the street outside the pub, Wilson ran from the premises while holding a bottle of wine.
Shaun Dryden, prosecuting, said Wilson struck the victim over the head with the bottle, causing her injuries to the scalp and inner lip.
Others from the pub ran over to pull the defendant away and take her back towards the premises.
When she was subsequently arrested and interviewed by the police, Wilson said she could not recall hitting anyone but claimed she had been assaulted.
Mr Dryden said the victim was left feeling “incredibly anxious” and she suffered panic attacks in the aftermath of the incident, which dates from October 5, 2022.
She said for some time she had not wanted to leave home as she did not feel safe, and it had affected her sleep due to flashbacks and the stress she said she felt following the incident, while, physically, she had been left with scarring.
But she thanked her family for being “protective” after the attack.
Wilson, now 42, of Tennyson Road, Chilton, was initially charged with wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, but her plea to a simple count of unlawful wounding was “accepted” by the Crown.
Mr Dryden said the case was aggravated as it was committed in the presence of children and while the defendant was under the influence of alcohol.
“She had been to the pub and was drinking, and the dispute continued from the pub outside to the street.
“It wouldn’t have occurred had she not approached the vehicle.
“She has to concede alcohol has been behind her convictions, but for nothing of this nature previously.
“When the CCTV was played she accepted causing the injuries but couldn’t believe she would have intended to cause those injuries with that bottle.”
Miss Coxon said the defendant has had “her troubles” in life and has used alcohol as, “a coping mechanism”, impacting on her mental health.
“She recognises alcohol does awful things for her.
“But she has no violence on her record and has been offence-free for nine years.”
Miss Coxon said the defendant would be suitable for an alcohol treatment requirement.
“This has been a salutary experience for her, of the risks she has posed not only to her, but to her family and others in the community by the way she has acted.
“She had clearly had vulnerable traits impacting on her behaviour that night, but they could be addressed by way of a suspended sentence order.”
Judge Nathan Adams told Wilson: “It’s quite clear from the evidence of the bar manager that you were becoming loud and swearing at the pub and you were asked to leave.”
The judge said members of the complainant’s family had been asked to hold back from the area before they left.
But when their car turned at the end of the road, “it was quite clear you were the aggressor and repeatedly struck her about the head while you were holding that bottle.
“Others intervened and they pulled away and the incident stopped.”
The judge told Wilson she has children of her own and should know not to behave in that fashion.
He said she has committed previous drink-related offences and, “clearly, alcohol is the problem here.”
The judge said it was aggravated by the presence of children, but he accepted the defendant has had no previous convictions for violence.
Judge Adams told her: “The Probation Service believes there is a problem with alcohol, but they can work with you.”
He imposed a nine-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, during which Wilson must take part in 25 rehabilitation activity days overseen by the Probation Service.
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She must also comply with a six-month alcohol treatment requirement
Judge Adams added: “I hope I’ve made it absolutely plain to you how close you have come to going to prison today.”
But he warned her the nine-month sentence would be hanging over her for the next 18 months.
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