Pub-goer spat drink over man in Easter Ross bar and implied she had Covid-19, Inverness Sheriff Court hears

A DRUNK woman who spat a drink in the face of another pub customer and implied she had coronavirus was spared a jail sentence.

Hollie Morris was also ordered to pay her victim £1500 in compensation in addition to doing 225 hours of unpaid work and one year of social work supervision.

Sheriff Margaret Neilson told the 25-year-old first offender of Mansfield Estate, Tain: “This is a very serious charge and it is a pity that you now have a criminal record.”

Sentence had been deferred for a background report and after reading it and hearing from defence solicitor Ken Ferguson, the sheriff said she had been persuaded to impose a non-custodial sentence.

Mr Ferguson told the court: “This occurred in the first week of the reopening of beer gardens when she went for lunch with friends.

“She got very drunk and she was taken home to sleep. But she was persuaded to return and does not recall what happened. She is disgusted and ashamed of her behaviour and has modified her drinking habits. She has expressed genuine remorse and has taken steps to address her behaviour and I would urge the court to consider a community based disposal.”

Inverness Sheriff Court had previously been told that the man was so traumatised, that he washed his face repeatedly in the bar toilet and then went for a Covid test which ultimately proved negative.

Morris admitted the offence, which occurred at the Platform 1864 bar/diner in Tain’s Station Road on July 11, 2020.

Sheriff Neilson was told that Morris walked into the beer garden, picked up the man’s glass of slushy cocktail and began drinking it. She then spat it in his face and remarked: “Get a grip, it’s only coronavirus.”

Morris was barred from the premises and the incident was reported to the police. When charged, Morris told the officers: “I am extremely apologetic about what I have done.”