A teenager who bit, strangled and beat a former friend that was dating her ex-boyfriend was jailed for 16 months today.
Danielle Gaffar attacked victim Kyra Strachan, both 18 at the time, in a nightclub in Dundee over a “disagreement”.
Gaffar, now 19, and from Dundee, pleaded guilty to assaulting Miss Strachan and causing her severe injury and permanent disfigurement in a fight on February 3 this year.
The bite mark on Miss Strachan’s face will leave permanent scarring and she also suffered bruising to her face and forehead.
Dundee Sheriff Court heard how the pair were formerly close friends but there had been a "disagreement" between them and there remained some animosity.
Prosecutor Kirsten Letford said: "At the time of the offence the complainer was in a relationship with a man who was formerly the partner of the accused."
In a “fleeting moment of madness” Gaffar had approached Miss Strachan on the dance floor of the Aura nightclub when she attacked from behind, pulled her to the ground, and banged her head on the floor several times.
She then put her arm around Miss Strachan’s throat so she was struggling to breathe and bit her on the right cheek so hard she needed eight stitches.
Despite Gaffar being a first time offender, Sheriff Tom Hughes rejected defence pleas not to jail her, condemning her actions as “reprehensible”.
He said: "I make no bones about it -- if I had been dealing with an adult, I'd talking about a considerable number of years in prison.
"This can only be described as a brutal attack and there's been absolute outrage in the community in respect of this matter.
"The court cannot tolerate young people being involved in this type of behaviour.
"I have to take into account your age, that you were of previous good character, have been in no trouble since, and are genuinely remorseful.
He added that he thought a custodial sentence is the only suitable way to resolve the incident due to the severe and brutal nature of the attack.
Defence solicitor Jim Laverty said that parliament had laid down that in the case of under-21s, where a "credible alternative" to custody existed, it should be used.
Outside court, Miss Strachan said she was happy with the outcome of the court case and that Gaffar had “deserved” the sentence.
