A Newcastle woman has been jailed for throwing alcohol at a stranger passing in the street.
Shannon Thorpe, 25, of Westgate Road, Newcastle, was convicted of common assault at Newcastle Magistrates' Court on 2nd March 2020.
She didn't appear for trial and was convicted in her absence. The prosecutor on that occasion made an application for a warrant for Thorpe's arrest, which the Bench duly granted.
Thorpe was arrested on that warrant last week and appeared in custody before District Judge Sarah Griffiths at North Tyneside Magistrates' Court on Thursday, 16th April 2020.
An additional absconding charge was put to her, which she admitted. She also admitted being in breach a community order, made in relation to an earlier assault conviction, by failing to attend probation appointments.
Prosecutor James Long outlined the circumstances of the assault, which took place on Westgate Road on the early evening of 30th April 2019.
The victim, a Muslim university student, was walking down the street when she suddenly felt a splash of liquid on the side of her hijab.
"She turned around and realised that it was not water but an alcoholic drink," Mr Long added.
"She saw a female holding a plastic cup, which was still dripping on the ground.
"The victim clearly believed that the defendant had thrown alcohol on her. She spoke with the defendant and asked why she had thrown something.
"The defendant replied 'I didn't, it's raining'. Well, it was not raining."
The court heard that Thorpe accused the victim of harassing her, before the victim walked further down the road and reported the incident to a police officer.
Alanna Wesencraft, mitigating, said Thorpe was an alcoholic at the time but had made positive steps to reduce her alcohol use.
Judge Griffiths, sentencing, said: "You have to take responsibility for your behaviour and actions.
"You were convicted of throwing a cup containing alcohol over someone who was minding their own business by simply walking up the street.
"You have got no right to throw anything over someone walking up the street. It's an assault and completely unforgivable."
Thorpe was sentenced to 20 weeks' custody and ordered to pay £150 compensation.
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