An alcohol-fuelled teenager who stabbed a 15-year-old girl in a Perth street has been sentenced to probation.
Kelly Ann Reid left her victim slumped on the ground and screaming for her mother as friends attempted to staunch the flow of blood from the wound.
The stab victim was rushed to Ninewells Hospital where she underwent a series of tests before medical staff were happy that she had not suffered any serious internal injuries.
Reid, now 17 but aged 16 at the time of the attack, had been told that just being in possession of a knife in a public place was enough to warrant custody.
She walked free from Perth Sheriff Court on Monday, however, after five months of good behaviour persuaded a sheriff to show leniency.
He placed her on probation for a year after hearing that she had attended a young offender scheme and made a good impression on social workers.
Reid had been visiting Perth from her home in Falkirk on June 20 when she became involved in an argument that turned into a serious assault.
The 16-year-old drove a blade into her 15-year-old victim after a drunken night out with family and friends before leaving her lying in a gutter as witnesses rushed to help.
Onlookers in the town’s North Methven Street are said to have screamed as Reid’s victim raised her shirt to reveal the injury she sustained.
A scarf was used as a tourniquet by friends as the victim fell to the ground, calling out for her mother as she did so.
Reid was seen walking away, shouting and holding aloft what witnesses described as a small, pen-knife-like blade.
The accused, of Parkhall Drive, Falkirk, later admitted at Perth Sheriff Court assaulting the girl and striking her on the body with a knife to her severe injury.
A not-guilty plea was accepted to a second charge that had alleged that a hot slice of pizza had been pushed into the complainer’s face on the same evening.
Depute fiscal Robbie Brown described the assault, saying: ”The accused came towards the complainer holding a knife in her clenched fist. She was seen to make a punching motion and stabbed the complainer.
”The attack resulted in a 15 to 18mm by 2mm wound, around the complainer’s waist to her back, and her doctor could also see into the wound to a depth of around 2mm.
”There were no serious internal injuries, but the doctor described her as ‘lucky’ that she had not been more seriously injured, given what had happened to her.”
During an earlier appearance, Sheriff Michael Fletcher told the teen that: ”Just to be in possession of a knife is usually enough to warrant a custodial sentence.
”To actually stab someone is a far more serious offence and in just about every case will result in a prison sentence of not less than a year.”
He initially deferred sentence upon Reid a first offender to enable her to show that she could be of good behaviour and for the court to obtain a report from social workers.
She was also ordered to take part in the Right Track programme, which is designed to steer young offenders away from a life of crime.
Faced with what he accepted was”a particularly favourable report” the sheriff said he was now willing to impose a non-custodial sentence.
He told Reid: ”This was a very serious offence because of the fact that a knife was involved. You were fortunate that the injuries your victim suffered were not as serious as they could have been.
”Given your background, the circumstances surrounding this incident and the fact that you have remained out of trouble, I believe I can now place you on probation.”