A woman who left her friend scarred for life by stabbing her repeatedly and then wrapping the injuries in Sellotape was jailed for 18 months.
Tracey McGregor, 32, picked up three large kitchen knives to carry out the unprovoked attack on Ann Mills, 46, before telling her: “They’re only superficial. I could have done worse.”
Sheriff Lindsay Foulis told McGregor that he considered she posed a danger to the public and ordered her to be placed under supervision for a further nine months after her release.
He told her: “This is a concerning case. Without any warning you went to the kitchen and armed yourself with three knives with six to eight inch blades and lunged at her and struck her five times.
“I am of the view that you constitute a serious risk of harm to others.” He noted she had previous convictions for violence including one where she hurled a hamster down a flight of stairs.
Perth Sheriff Court was told that blood was pumping from a wound in Miss Mills arm and she was also stabbed in the abdomen and leg during the unprovoked attack.
McGregor used three knives during the attack and Miss Mills had to run from her home in terror as she feared she was being chased from the house.
The court was told that some of the knives were found in McGregor’s bag while another had been left lying on the floor of her living room. She had her victim’s blood on her sleeve.
Fiscal depute Gavin Letford said the two friends had arranged to meet for drinks but McGregor called off. Miss Mills former partner’s home was trashed and a sofa there was slashed with a knife on the same day.
“Her former partner’s home had been trashed and Miss McGregor was suspected to have been responsible for trashing it. A conversation about it was overheard by the accused.
“The complainer sat on the couch with a beer and cigarette. She did not have a lighter so she asked the accused for one,” Mr Letford told the court.
“The accused went into the kitchen and returned a few seconds later. As she approached Miss Mills the accused lunged forward and struck her on the chest with a weapon.
“She raised her arms to defend herself and the accused began to jab her body with the weapon. Her body was struck several times and she felt blood pumping from a slash wound to her upper arm.
“The accused stopped attacking Miss Mills and as she did she was seen to have two knives in one hand and one knife in the other. The blades were six to eight inches in length.
“Miss Mills was shocked and never saw the attack coming. The accused went to the kitchen and returned with a towel and a roll of Sellotape.
“She proceeded to locate the injuries sustained, particularly to the arm. The accused wrapped several layers of Sellotape round the wound to stop the bleeding.”
McGregor told her shocked friend: “F**ks sake, they’re only superficial. I could have done worse.”
Miss Mills managed to run out of the house and call 999. Mr Letford said: “She was terrified the accused was chasing after her and she ran straight over to a friend’s home.”
The court was told she was bleeding from wounds to her leg, arm and stomach and she was taken to Perth Royal Infirmary where she required a number of stitches.
McGregor, 32, Eriskay Place, Perth, admitted permanently disfiguring Ann Mills at her home on 21 September last year by repeatedly stabbing her on the body.