A WOMAN smashed a glass over a man's head during a pub fracas- and then claimed he tried to touch her.

But hotel worker Louise Ferguson, 37, of O'Hare, Bonhill, avoided a custodial sentence "by a fine margin" when she appeared at Dumbarton Sheriff Court on Tuesday, January 17, on indictment.

She pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to assaulting a man in The Pawn Lounge, Overtoun Street, Alexandria, on October 30 2015 by pushing him on the head, then striking him on the head with a glass, to his injury.

A deal was struck between Ferguson's defence solicitor and the Crown to remove the word "repeatedly" from the indictment.

The Fiscal Depute, Sarah Healing, outlined the circumstances of the case at the previous hearing.

She said: "The complainer was sitting at a table, close to the entry.

"The accused was sitting at a table at the far right corner with two other individuals who were not involved in this incident.

"Between 5pm and 6pm the complainer arrived in the lounge where he sat at a table near the main entrance.

"He'd taken four pints of lager during the course of the evening.

"The accused entered the premises a short while later with two others sitting at the rear of the premises.

"It was an unremarkable evening until 8.45pm when complainer noticed the accused was sitting at a table opposite him.

"He glanced over to look at the accused and she said: "What are you looking at?"

"She then stood up and approached the complainer and shouted "What are you looking at?"

"She picked up a glass that was sitting on the complainer's table and held it in her right hand.

"With her left hand she pushed him, raised her right hand and struck him on the right side of his head, causing the glass to smash.

"The accused began shouting "he's just touched me" in a perceived justification of her actions."

Ms Healing pointed out, though, that CCTV footage indicated there was no such contact by the victim.

She continued: "A member of staff became aware of the incident and that the victim sustained a head injury.

"The accused left the premises with her friends, members of staff assisted the complainer and police and an ambulance arrived.

"The accused was later identified as being responsible and they set about trying to find her- and did so on November 2, when they arrived at her home address.

"She was cautioned and charged with assault."

In terms of the injuries the victim sustained Ms Healing revealed: "It was a relatively minor injury and he was treated at the scene. He did not require hospital treatment."

When the case called for sentencing last Tuesday, it was revealed that this was hotel worker Ferguson's second conviction for assault to injury.

Her defence solicitor said: "She is 37 and a single parent with three young children.

"I have a letter from her employer, confirming that she is well thought of at that particular hotel.

"She is ashamed of her actions and while she explained the context (in the social justice report) she is not trying to justify her actions.

"I appreciate she has a previous conviction, in 2011, that is a concern.

"What I can say is that she appreciates that there was no serious injury to the victim, who was treated by paramedics and treated with a plaster."

The court was also told how Ferguson suffered from "mental health difficulties," was getting treatment for alcohol issues and attending AA meetings.

The defence agent continued: "She appreciates that all options are open to the court in view of her previous conviction because custody has to be considered."

He added: "She is ashamed of her actions and of the fact that she has put her family at risk.

"She's worried about a custodial sentence- not just for the impact on her but on her family."

Sheriff Pender retired to consider what punishment he would deliver and after more than an hour he returned to the bench and told Ferguson: "Given this is your second conviction on indictment for assault to injury I have taken time to consider possibly sending you to prison.

"You did have a previous conviction from 2011 which you received the maximum amount of community service.

"But it is, by a fine margin, that I am able to deal with this without you going to custody.

"But you have to view this as a last chance."

Sheriff Pender placed Ferguson on a community payback order which requires her to carry out 300 hours of unpaid work in the community within the next 12 months.

In addition she was placed on a restriction of liberty order, which means she must stay within her home address between the hours on 7pm and 7am for the next eight months.

Ferguson will also be placed under supervision for the next three years.