Bellshill woman who plunged smashed glass into friend's face JAILED

We previously reported that Collette Hanchard and Frances McKay had been enjoying a summer's night in the victim's outhouse at her home when she suddenly carried out the unprovoked attack.

The 55-year-old laundry worker later messaged Frances, 57, stating she had a cut finger - and could not remember what happened.

The defenceless victim could have died, but for urgent medical treatment.

First offender Hanchard today appeared at the High Court in Glasgow, having earlier pleaded guilty to an aggravated assault charge. 

Judge Alistair Watson sentenced her to four years and 11 months.

He told Hanchard: "The woman has been left with extensive and visible scarring.

"The victim impact statement sets out in detail the physical injury suffered. 

"It also speaks of the life-changing effect the attack has had on her. The psychological harm is massive."

Hanchard had gone to Frances's home in Hamilton, Lanarkshire, on June 14, 2024.

The attacker was described as being in "good spirits". 

The women were initially in the living room before going into the back garden to socialise.

Prosecutor David Fisken told the court: "They remained outside chatting and listening to music."

Around midnight, Hanchard told Frances that she had called a taxi, but was going to visit the toilet before she left.

She was clutching a green-stemmed gin glass at the time.

Mr Fisken then explained: "Hanchard was away for two to three minutes while Frances remained in the outhouse.

"Frances then heard glass smashing. Hanchard came to the door of the outhouse, took a large step towards the victim, who felt a terrible pain to the left side of her face and neck.

"She covered her face with her hands and crouched over.

"Hanchard then threw her right hand towards Frances's face, who this time felt extreme pain to the front of it."

The badly wounded woman got away from Hanchard and yelled on her husband, Anthony McKay, who was upstairs.

Mr Fisken said: "He ran down and saw her holding her neck with blood pouring out from it. Frances said to him: 'She has been attacking me'."

Anthony grabbed a towel to help his wife and shouted at Hanchard to get out of their home.

But, she instead sauntered back into the outhouse "as if nothing had happened".

A raging Anthony physically grabbed her and chucked her onto the street. Hanchard, of Bellshill, soon left in a taxi. 

Frances was rushed to hospital - she had bad injuries to her cheek, ear, lip and neck.

She was luckily able to leave on June 16 after medical help.

Mr Fisken added: "The potential consequences of treatment not being provided were bleeding, scarring, infection and death.

"Frances has been left with extensive permanent scarring and a loss of feeling down the left side of her neck as well as behind the ear."

The court heard Hanchard messaged the victim via Facebook after the attack and also left voicemails.

In one text, she claimed: "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 your a really good friend xxx".

She said in a voicemail just hours after the crime that she had woke up with "blood everywhere" adding: "Can you help me please?"

Hanchard later told police she had no memory of the time the attack happened, but could recall being asked to leave by Frances's husband.

Hanchard pleaded guilty to a charge of assaulting her friend to her severe injury, permanent disfigurement and impairment as well as danger of her life.

Rhonda Anderson, defending, today said: "The woman before the court is wholly disgusted by her actions.

"She is bereft about what she has done and recognises that she has to be punished."

Judge Watson cut the jail term from six and a half years due to the guilty plea.