A girls’ night out in Troon took a vicious turn when a young woman carried out a drink-and-drugs fuelled assault on her pal, repeatedly kicking and punching her on the head.
Rebecca Dunn, 20, of Ballochmyle Way, Mauchline, carried out the assault following an argument over money for a taxi home.
Dunn appeared at Ayr Sheriff Court on Wednesday, June ,5 and admitted the attack.
She pleaded guilty to assaulting her friend by seizing her by the hair, dragging her to the ground, sitting on her and repeatedly punching and kicking her on the head.
The offence took place in Portland Street, Troon, on May 29 around 11.25pm last year.
Dunn’s defence solicitor Mhairi McMillan said: “It appears to be a night out with girls and the fall-out was petty.
“It was regarding whether or not they had enough money for a taxi and she (Dunn) did not have money to get home.
“She had lost her grandfather and was upset. She was drinking alcohol and taking medication and should not have mixed them.”
Ms McMillan told the court how the victim had since “reached out” to Dunn via social media but her overtures were rejected due to the ongoing court case.
And she also mooted the possibility of her client being given an absolute discharge, meaning a finding of guilt but no conviction being registered.
Ms McMillan continued: “She’s a young woman and does not have previous convictions.
“She is currently registered with the SSSC (Scottish Social Services Council) and works in a care home and it (a conviction) would have serious consequences for this career path.”
The court was shown CCTV footage of Dunn carrying out the street attack. Ms McMillan continued: “She’s been accepted into college to complete an art degree. Her dream job is to become an art teacher.”
She added: “It’s been a bad mistake but it could have an impact on her career.”
But Sheriff Ross Macfarlane refused the request to grant Dunn an absolute discharge.
He said: “I’m going to proceed to conviction, given that she kicked somebody on the head while lying on the ground.”
Sentence was deferred until Tuesday, June 25, for reports.
