Woman attacks partner with vodka bottle and half-pint glass (original) (raw)

A woman with a "violent temper" hit her partner with a vodka bottle and a half-pint glass during a "heavy drinking session", a court has heard. Charlotte Cotterrell has a history of violent offending and at the time of the incident was subject to a community order for assaulting two police officers.

A judge at Swansea Crown Court said he was faced with a stark choice - either to impose what would be a relatively short custodial sentence or to impose a more constructive alternative designed to help the defendant. Handing the 25-year-old a suspended sentence the judge told her: "This sentence is designed to give you a chance to put your life back in order. Whether you take the chance or not is a matter for you."

Matt Murphy, prosecuting, said the defendant and a man by the name of Terry Thomas began a relationship in January this year, and in March Mr Thomas went to stay with Cotterrell in her Pontardawe home for a couple of days. He said on March 8 the couple were socialising and drinking cocktails at the flat with a friend when an altercation developed which ended with Cotterrell and her partner shouting and being "face to face" with each other. During the argument the defendant grabbed a vodka bottle and hit Mr Thomas on the head with it causing him to stumble backwards. Cotterrell then hit him with a half-pint glass which caused him to go to the floor.

The court heard the victim stayed the night at Cotterrell's home and woke the following morning to find dried blood on his head. The prosecutor said Mr Thomas wanted to reconcile the relationship with the defendant but another argument developed between the pair and the victim ended up calling the police.

Charlotte Cotterrell, of Brynawel, Pontardawe, had previously pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH) when she appeared in the dock for sentencing. She has 11 previous convictions for 13 offences including two assaults on emergency workers, three assaults by beating, and an unlawful wounding. At the time of Pontardawe attack she was subject to a community order imposed in November 2023 for assaulting two police officers after she became "extremely agitated" following her arrest for unrelated matters.

Jon Tarrant, for Cotterrell, said the defendant had a borderline personality disorder and said there was a correlation between his client's behaviour and her taking her medication and engaging with the services which were trying to help her. He added: "To say she blows hot and cold would be something of an understatement." For the latest court reports, sign up to our crime newsletter here

Judge Paul Thomas KC said during a "heavy drinking session" at her flat the defendant had hit her victim with a bottle and a glass, a serious offence made even more serious by her background of violence. He said it was clear the defendant had a "violent temper" and was prepared to lash out on "very limited provocation". The judge said the choice facing him was a stark one - he said he could either send the defendant to prison for what would be, given the length of time Cotterell had spent on remand, a matter of a few more months, or he could impose a more constructive alternative to immediate custody. With a 10 per cent discount for her guilty plea, Cotterrell was sentenced to 18 months in prison suspended for 18 months. The judge revoked the community order the defendant was subject to and sentenced het to two months in prison for those offences to run consecutively to the ABH sentence and suspended on the same terms. Cotterrell was also ordered to complete a mental health treatment requirement and a rehabilitation course, and was made the subject of a restraining order banning her from contacting her ex for the next three years.

Judge Thomas told the defendant: "This sentence is designed to give you a chance to put your life back in order. Whether you take the chance or not is a matter for you."

If you, a family member, or a friend have experienced domestic abuse or sexual violence, you can contact the Live Fear Free helpline 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for free advice and support, or to talk through your options. Call 0808 80 10 800, text 0786 007 7333, email info@livefearfreehelpline.wales or go to gov.wales/live-fear-free

Live Fear Free (funded by Welsh Government and run by Welsh Women’s Aid) is a confidential service. Calls to 0808 80 numbers are free to call from landlines and mobile phones in the UK. They do not appear on itemised bills. The helpline provides support in English and Welsh, and access to an interpreter for callers with language support needs.

The Refuge charity also provides information, support and practical help 24 hours a day to women experiencing domestic violence. The service can refer women and children to refuges throughout the UK to help them escape domestic abuse. Refuge can be called on 0808 808 9999.

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