A woman who drunkenly attacked a stranger by clawing at her face has been told to pay her victim £300 in compensation.
Carol MacCallum assaulted the woman in a hospital car park for absolutely no reason after “completely and utterly misreading the situation”, Elgin Sheriff Court was told.
The 47-year-old launched herself at her victim, grabbed her by the throat and repeatedly clawed at and punched her face, during the mid-afternoon attack on November 22, 2021.
Fiscal depute Naomi Duffy-Welsh said MacCallum had initially approached a man, who was also unknown to her, in St Giles car park, to state that her friend had just been raped and needed help.
Pair were not known to her
“The couple had travelled to Elgin from their home so that he could attend at an appointment while his wife stayed in the car,” the fiscal said.
“At around 3.30pm he was approaching his car when the accused screamed at him that her friend had just been raped and needed help.
“He told her he had just passed the police and to go tell them.
“His wife then got out of the car, panicking, to see if the woman needed help.
“Without warning the accused grabbed her by the throat, clawing at her face and punching her on the nose.
“She tried to push the accused away and shouted at her husband for help.
“Every time she tried to get her off the accused resumed and continued to punch her and scratch her to the face and neck.”
The woman’s husband eventually managed to halt the assault and police were called.
MacCallum, of Forbes Court, Elgin, admitted a charge of assault to injury.
‘Totally and utterly misread the situation’
Her defence agent, Stephen Carty, said his client had been drunk at the time and that “things escalated quickly”.
“It’s quite evident that Ms MacCallum was drunk at the time of the offence,” he said.
“She totally and utterly misread the situation.
“In her mind, she thinks something untoward had happened involving the complainer’s husband. This escalated quickly and she accepts her conduct towards the woman was completely unacceptable.
“She is absolutely mortified that this happened.”
The solicitor added that the incident had a “sobering effect” on MacCallum who has since engaged with drug and alcohol support services and refrained from drink since earlier this year.
Sheriff Gordon Fleetwood handed her a two-year supervision order and a conduct requirement to engage with alcohol and drug support services.
He also ordered she pay £300 in compensation to her victim.
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