A drunken racist has been brought to justice six years after glassing a man in a pub.
Irishwoman Shannon Cairns, who was wanted by police in England, was finally arrested in Scotland a month ago.
The 24-year-old, who lives in Moffat, Dumfriesshire, appeared at Gloucester Crown Court yesterday and admitted a racially motivated assault on Zonday Ngwazi.
The court heard Cairns had been arrested after the assault in the Junction pub in Cheltenham on September 30, 2013. She admitted the attack but was not charged and was released on police bail pending inquiries.
Her lawyer claimed she never heard from police again.
Solicitor Steven Young added: “Cairns’s sister was stopped by the police on August 22 and she was with her at the time. She was asked for her name. It came back that she was wanted by Gloucestershire Police.”
Prosecutor Janine Wood said an 18-year-old Cairns was visiting friends in Cheltenham when she got into a “heated argument” with Zonday, then 39.
She added Cairns was “totally drunk and out of control”.
The court heard Zonday suffered a deep cut to his right cheek, along with small cuts and scars around his face, when Cairns attacked him.
He had to have a minor operation to remove glass from one of his eyes.
Judge Ian Lawrie QC said it was “uncharacteristic behaviour” from Cairns but added: “You were out of control because of the amount of drink you consumed and must take responsibility for your actions.”
He sentenced her to 13 months in prison, suspended for 18 months. He also ordered her to do 150 hours of unpaid work, pay £800 compensation to her victim, £250 towards prosecution costs and a £100 victim surcharge.
