Drunk woman attacked man with shoe and spat in his face after being asked to leave his Sunderland home

By Gareth Crickmer
Published 2nd Nov 2022, 04:55 BST
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A drunken woman who attacked a man with her shoe and spat in his face after being asked to leave his Sunderland home has been spared jail.

Carolyn McCann, 54, lashed out after getting so drunk at a house in the city she was asked to leave. McCann reacted by throwing her footwear against her victim’s head, South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court heard. She then spat on his cheek before spitting again, which this time landed on a carpet, at around 1.30am on Tuesday, January 25.

District Judge Zoe Passfield told McCann, who could not remember the assault, such violence often ends in a prison term. But after hearing the attack had been the spark to the defendant quitting alcohol and turning her life around, she instead sentenced McCann to a 12-month community order, with 120 hours of unpaid work, and ordered her to pay her victim £100 compensation.

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Prosecutor John Garside said: “The defendant was at the complainant’s home address. He’s provided a statement to say they were drinking alcohol when the defendant became extremely intoxicated. When asked to leave the property, she took off a shoe and threw it at him. It hit him on the head, causing redness. She then spat at him, hitting him on the cheek, and a second spit missed and hit the carpet.”

The case was heard at South Tyneside Magistrates Court.The case was heard at South Tyneside Magistrates Court.
The case was heard at South Tyneside Magistrates Court.

McCann, who has a single previous conviction, pleaded guilty to a charge of assault by beating. A Probation Service report read to the court said McCann had not drunk alcohol for nine months and had found settled accommodation.

Joanne Gatens, defending, said: “She says she spiralled into alcohol abuse after the breakdown of her relationship and losing her job. She was living in a hostel, her alcohol increased. She had been drinking that night, and it escalated.”

Judge Passfield told McCann, of Coquet Avenue, Gosforth, Newcastle: “Spitting and using weapons would normally attract a prison sentence. However, I’m stepping back from that. There’s your guilty plea and the offence was nine months ago. The second reason is the excellent report from the Probation Service, how on your own you’ve addressed the issues that led to this offence.”