Two young women who carried out an unprovoked Angus high street assault on a defenceless 15-year-old were advised by a sheriff to cut alcohol from their lives.
Sheriff Kevin Veal at Forfar had described Chloe Beattie and Stacey Scrimgeour’s boozing as the prelude to the Kirrie Square incident in September when they set upon a love rival of one of the accused.
The sheriff told them, “Alcohol provides the overture before the symphony, and the symphony was pretty cacophonous.”
Beattie (18), of Graham Crescent, Forfar, and Scrimgeour (22), of Balgarthno Terrace, Dundee, had earlier admitted assaulting the teenager in Kirriemuir on September 17, Beattie by kicking her on the head and body to her injury and her co-accused by pulling her repeatedly on the hair and pulling her to the ground, also while on bail.
Depute fiscal Hannah Kennedy said the victim was sitting on a town centre bench with friends when Scrimgeour approached her and without warning pulled her by the hair.
The girl then broke free and Scrimgeour lunged at her, pulling her by the hair as a result of which she fell to the ground.
“Whilst on the ground the co-accused Beattie intervenes and she repeatedly kicks the complainer on the head and body. At no time does the complainer try to defend herself.”
A group of young men in The Square broke up the attack and the fiscal said the victim was not seriously injured, but sustained bleeding to her scalp where hair had been pulled out as well as reddening to her head and chest.
Defence agent Amy Walsh, for Beattie, said her client expressed “deep regret and remorse at being before the court today.”History”As is often the case, there’s been a history between the complainer, who formed a relationship with Miss Beattie’s former partner. Without attempting to minimise the offence, there had been text messages and phonecalls between them.
“What can be seen as trivial with maturity can appear more inflammatory at that age-and they had been drinking,” she added. “The extent and the duration of the incident was also short.”
“She is not someone who otherwise goes out looking for trouble and is a stranger to the court,” added the agent, who said Beattie had gained a care home job but was concerned the criminal case would have a serious impact on her career.
“The outcome of today is absolutely key to her future plans. This type of behaviour is not what Miss Beattie is about. The phrase one-off is often bandied about, but I really believe this is the case here,” added the lawyer.
Brian Bell, for Scrimgeour, admitted his client’s position was more precarious since she had been before the court in early September in respect of an analogous offence for which community service was imposed.
He said Scrimgeour accepted she had started the attack, but was not involved in kicking the teenager.
Sheriff Veal told the pair, “I regard this as a serious matter. I accept there’s a background, but this was an unprovoked assault.”
He added, “If both accused find that alcohol makes them behave that way then they should consider if it should be a part of their recreational activities.
He fined Beattie £200 and ordered her to pay £150 compensation to the victim.
Scrimgeour was placed on probation for 18 months and also ordered to carry out 90 hours’ community service.