A woman who “repeatedly” struck her friend and tried to tie her up with the wire of a TV aerial has been handed a suspended prison sentence.
The 38-year-old’s solicitor told court that the defendant had “little or no recollection” of the incident.
Kellie McCartan, with an address of Hazelbank Road in Coleraine, did not appear as she was sentenced on six charges at Banbridge Magistrates’, sitting at Newry on Thursday.
The defendant was charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm, criminal damage, resisting police, two counts of assault on police and possession of an offensive weapon with intent to commit an indictable offence.
Prosecution outlined that at 10.30pm, on February 1, police received a report of an assault on Brookfield Meadows in Banbridge.
Upon arrival officers spoke to the injured party.
She stated that McCartan, her friend, had repeatedly struck her and then attempted to tie her up with the wire of a TV aerial, before wrecking her apartment.
It was observed by police that the injured party had cuts, blood and bruising to her face. They also spotted the wire of the TV aerial which had hair tangled in it.
The defendant was subsequently arrested and during this she kicked out, hitting one officer on the leg and attempting to bite another as she was conveyed into custody.
McCartan was later interviewed and denied all of the offences.
Defence solicitor John Murphy stated: “Ms McCartan told probation that she was disgusted by her behaviour. She was with her friend drinking and she had been taking her medication. She suffers from depression.
“She instructs that she has little or no recollection of the incident. She now resides in Coleraine.”
He added that the defendant had been referred to receive treatment for her issues with alcohol prior to lockdown.
District Judge Eamon King said: “The PSR (pre-sentence report) shows that she has been subject to probation combination orders previously.
“It is accepted that the origin of her offending is her issues with alcohol but that is something that she needs to deal with.”
McCartan was sentenced to a total of five months in prison suspended for a period of two years.
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