Glass attack mum spared from prison (From This Is Wiltshire)

A WOMAN who deliberately smashed a broken wine glass into her grown up daughter’s face in a drunken rage has been spared a jail term.

Denise Cartner, of Queens Avenue, Highworth , was at the end of her tether after years of abuse, both physical and verbal, when she snapped after a boozy pub meal.

The 47-year-old, who sobbed in the dock throughout the hearing, was facing the prospect of a two-year jail term for the attack, which scarred her victim.

But Recorder Nicholas Atkinson QC, sitting at Swindon Crown Court, said: “This is a wholly exceptional case.”

He imposed a 12-month jail term suspended for two years and told her to complete 150 hours of unpaid work.

Tessa Hingston, prosecuting, said the mother had been to the Spotted Cow at Coate with her 29-year-old daughter and the daughter’s boyfriend.

During the meal on July 8, she said the atmosphere had been jovial and both women had been drinking, perhaps as much as a bottle of wine each.

After leaving Kevin Black, who stayed off alcohol, was driving, with Cartner in the front passenger seat and her daughter, Kelly Brown, behind him.

Mrs Hingston said the women had also had a bottle of wine with a screw cap and a wine glass, which were on the car floor by the Cartner’s feet.

During the journey Miss Brown started to rage at her mother, pulling her hair and throwing a shoe at her.

Both women were on medication, which may have combined with the alcohol, and were screaming and swearing.

Mr Black pulled up at his home and went inside as Cartner picked up the glass, smashed it on the door frame and went for her daughter.

When the police arrived Cartner told them ‘She just kept pulling my hair and pulling my hair so I just smashed the glass and hit her with it.”

When she was questioned she told of her daughter’s troubled childhood, which saw her prescribed the stimulant Ritalin at the age of seven.

Mrs Hingston said Cartner had taken an overdose after the incident, which led to her being taken to hospital and she told the court her daughter had not wished to see her mother prosecuted.

Cartner admitted wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

Rob Ross , defending, said his client had led an utterly blameless life and had been a caring, devoted mother.

“She had been driven to distraction that evening by what Kelly had done to her. She had been assaulted by her,” he said.

“She suffered depression because of some of the problems Kelly exhibited in the past.”

He said Kelly had wanted to come to the hearing but feared it would compromise her mother’s bail conditions.

Passing sentence the judge said: “I have no doubt you were provoked, I have no doubt you had too much to drink in combination with prescription drugs. You acted out of character.”