A troubled young woman brandished a blade and assaulted a work colleague at a Keswick hotel.
Police were contacted late on February 1 by the general manager of the George Hotel, St John’s Street. It was reported that 24-year-old employee Amy Dwyer was intoxicated at the premises and behaving aggressively.
A female colleague asked to check on the hotel was confronted by Dwyer in the hotel bar.
“Miss Dwyer approached her and started arguing with her, accusing (the woman) of sleeping with her ex-partner and insulting her, trying to goad her into a fight,” prosecutor Maxwell Cope told Carlisle Crown Court yesterday.
“Miss Dwyer then assaulted her by grabbing her by the wrists and face, causing minimal injury, but damaging several jewellery items in the process.”
These included bracelets, a necklace and a pair of glasses, the total value being £248.
“During the altercation (the victim) has observed Miss Dwyer to be in possession of a long kitchen knife,” said Mr Cope. “She describes it to be seven or eight inches, concealed inside her jumper’s front pocket, which the defendant then takes out and brandishes at one point. This is also witnessed by several other parties and captured on CCTV.”
Police arrived, arrested Dwyer and found the knife inside the hotel.
In an impact statement, the victim said she was without glasses for two weeks. “I could not see properly,” she said. “The main impact from this incident has been at my place of work. I work in a customer-facing role, at a restaurant in Keswick. I am aware she (Dwyer) is in the area sometimes.
“I have found leaving my place of work stressful in case I meet Amy again.”
Dwyer, of no fixed address, admitted possessing a bladed article, assault by beating and damaging property.
Kim Whittlestone, mitigating, said a probation service pre-sentence report contained a wealth of information about Dwyer’s troubled background. “She needs support at this stage,” said the barrister.
Judge Michael Fanning suspended a 10-month jail term for a year in light of powerful mitigation. Dwyer must complete work with the probation service and a drug rehabilitation requirement.
“There is every reason, in my view, notwithstanding how serious this offence was, to suspend the sentence so you can get the help that you need,” said Judge Fanning. “Everything boiled over. You reacted in totally the wrong way. You’ve had chance to reflect on that.”
