Kelly Marie Hamon (28), of Brighton Road, also pleaded guilty to assault by punching a man in the street. However, a charge of assaulting a police officer, which had been put to her on a previous appearance, was dropped as it did not appear on the revised charge sheet.
The court heard from Advocate Sarah Dale, defending, that at the time of the offending in March, Hamon had been suffering from the effects of a traumatic experience. However, she said that the defendant ‘was now in a much better place’ as a result of counselling, voluntarily attending the Alcohol and Drugs Service and ‘throwing herself into her work’.
In sentencing, Relief Magistrate Sarah Fitz said that she noted the significant effort made by Hamon to deal with the matters that had been affecting her. ‘I wish you well in your endeavours in making sure these things don’t happen again,’ said the Relief Magistrate.
The court heard from police legal adviser Simon Crowder that shortly after midnight on 11 March Hamon was in The Halkett pub. The court was told that a member of the bar staff heard the sound of a glass smashing and saw Hamon lift her arm to throw a glass at a wall. As he came out from behind the bar, the defendant went to leave the premises but he alerted the door staff. This led to Hamon being arrested by a police officer and Mr Crowder said that the defendant put up some resistance. He said that included kicking out and there was contact with the officer’s leg ‘as a result of moving side to side to resist him’. The prosecutor said that Hamon apologised to the police officer, who was not injured. As a result of her actions, Hamon admitted being disorderly on licensed premises and resisting arrest.
The assault on the man happened on 29 March.
The court was told that about 10.30 pm Hamon was outside the Dog & Sausage pub in Hilgrove Street when the man made a comment about the traumatic issue the defendant had been trying to cope with. Mr Crowder said that Hamon reacted by punching him to the left eye with a clenched fist. Advocate Dale said that Hamon had been upset by the remark. The lawyer said that the defendant voluntarily went to police headquarters and submitted that it was her admissions and her co-operation that led to the prosecution proceeding.
