Woman facing jail after slashing Hamilton woman's neck

Nov 26 2009

A FEMALE thug who slashed a woman’s neck with a knife at a Hamilton house is facing a lengthy prison term.

Abigail McFarlane carried out the vicious attack on Caroline McDermid at the complainer’s Fereneze Crescent home on September 21 last year.

The 35-year-old accused from East Kilbride admitted assaulting Ms McDermid to her severe injury and permanent disfigurement at Hamilton Sheriff Court last Friday.

The court was told that McFarlane turned on her victim after she was challenged in the street last year.

Ms McDermid sustained a 10cm incised wound to the left side of her neck and was taken to Monklands Hospital where she received 29 internal and external stitches.

Depute Fiscal John Penman told the court that McFarlane had been drinking at the time of the incident.

Early on September 21, he said, McFarlane had caused a disturbance in the street, and her then partner came out of his home and moved her inside.

He said: "Neighbours became aware of the disturbance and witnesses came from their homes to see what was going on.”

The fiscal depute said the accused appeared and reached behind a group of neighbours and struck Ms McDermid on the neck with a knife or similar implement.

"One witness outside heard someone saying, ‘She's f****** slashed her’. She watched the accused walk away,” said Mr Penman.

Ms McDermid went into the hallway of the house, bleeding profusely. Police arrived and found her there.

She identified the accused as responsible and attended hospital.

The complainer had sustained a 10cm wound from the left ear to mid neck and needed 29 stitches.

Ms McDermid later discharged herself.

The accused’s lawyer told Sheriff Douglas Brown: “It’s a very serious matter and Miss McFarlane is well aware of that.”

He also explained that the accused had been “very seriously assaulted” by her former partner three weeks before her court appearance.

"My client understands the seriousness of the crime. She was assaulted by her partner and will have to have two plates put into her jaw," he added.

McFarlane, of 42 Franklin Place, Westwood, East Kilbride, also admitted a charge of failing to appear for sheriff and jury proceedings at Hamilton Sheriff Court on August of this year.

Sheriff Douglas Brown deferred sentence on McFarlane, who has a long criminal record, for reports until December 18 and continued bail.

He added: "It’s a very serious matter and you should expect a substantial period of imprisonment.”