A woman has been jailed after leaving her friend with horrific injuries by plunging a smashed gin glass into her face. Colette Hanchard, 55, attacked Frances McKay, 57, during an unprovoked assault at the victim's home in Hamilton, Lanarkshire, on June 14, 2024.
The Attack
Hanchard, a laundry worker, had been socialising with McKay in the back garden of the victim's home. Around midnight, Hanchard said she had called a taxi but needed to use the toilet. She was holding a green-stemmed gin glass at the time. After being away for two to three minutes, she returned to the outhouse where McKay was waiting. The court heard Hanchard smashed the glass and then lunged at McKay, causing severe injuries to her cheek, ear, lip, and neck.
McKay managed to escape and called for her husband, Anthony, who was upstairs. He found his wife holding her neck with blood pouring out. Anthony grabbed a towel to help and ordered Hanchard to leave, but she returned to the outhouse as if nothing had happened. He then physically removed her from the property.
Aftermath
McKay was rushed to hospital and required urgent medical treatment. She was discharged on June 16, 2024, but has been left with extensive permanent scarring and loss of feeling on the left side of her neck and behind her ear. The court heard that without treatment, she could have died from bleeding, scarring, or infection.
After the attack, Hanchard sent messages to McKay via Facebook, claiming she could not remember what happened. In one message, she wrote: 'Hi Frances - what happened last night. I can't remember a thing. Cut finger, blood everywhere. I'm really sorry if I've done something cause you're a really good friend.' She also left voicemails asking for help.
Court Proceedings
Hanchard, a first-time offender, pleaded guilty to aggravated assault causing severe injury, permanent disfigurement, and danger to life. Judge Alistair Watson expressed scepticism about her claimed memory loss, noting that she recalled earlier events and later had some memory. He said: 'This is a somewhat bizarre case. A person your age having gone through life without getting into trouble should then commit a crime of such gravity.'
Hanchard, of Bellshill, Lanarkshire, was remanded in custody and will be sentenced next month. The judge stated that a significant custodial sentence appears overwhelming.
