Edinburgh grandmother inflicted permanent scars when she slashed her neighbour

A DRUNK grandmother has left a neighbour with permanent scars after slashing her with a Stanley blade.
Blyth appeared at Edinburgh Sheriff CourtBlyth appeared at Edinburgh Sheriff Court
Blyth appeared at Edinburgh Sheriff Court

Constance Blyth, 57, lashed out at next door neighbour Leigh Clark with the sharp work tool during an argument in October last year.

The pair became involved in a doorstep row outside their Edinburgh homes which left Ms Clark with six deep wounds to her left hand, arm and shoulder.

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The violent bust up between the pair was broken up when another neighbour head butted Blyth after overhearing the fight from her home.

Edinburgh Sheriff Court was told Ms Clark was subsequently rushed to St John’s hospital in Livingston for treatment to her injuries by a plastic surgery team.

The victim has been left with permanent scars to the delft side of her body following the vicious assault at the Capital’s Haymarket area.

Blyth admitted the attack when she appeared at the city’s sheriff court last month and she returned to the dock for sentencing today.

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Prosecutor Anna Robertson told the court the assault took place after Ms Clark had invited a friend to her home at around 8.30pm on October 22 last year.

The depute procurator fiscal said Blyth, of the city’s Morrison Street, was “under the influence” of alcohol when the row erupted between the two neighbours.

Ms Robertson said Blyth “repeatedly” struck the woman to the body with the blade before the bloody attack was stopped by the intervening neighbour.

The fiscal added Ms Clark’s injuries included three 10cm wounds to her hand, two lacerations to her shoulder and a five centimetre cut to her arm.

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Following the brutal attack police attended at Blyth’s home and a found the Stanley blade lying on a coffee table.

She told officers investigating the incident: “All I tried to do was help a lassie.”

Defence solicitor Brian Gilfedder said: “It has to be accepted that this is a very serious matter and she is full of remorse, although she has no recollection.

“But the evidence that she committed this offence, the DNA and the blood splatter, was all clear direct evidence.

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“At the time she was drinking heavily and was not taking her anti-psychotic medication. On that background she did something she would not have ordinarily done.”

The lawyer added Blyth has two grandchildren and that she “understands the gravity” of the offence.

Sheriff John Mundy said: “This is a highly unusual case because normally it would result in custody.

“But I am persuaded to stop short of that as it is something that is out of character as far as I can tell.

“But it is absolute vital that you take your medication.”

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Blyth was placed on a restriction of liberty assessment for the next six months where she has to stay within her home address between the hours of 7pm and 7am.

She pleaded guilty to assaulting Leigh Clark by repeatedly striking her on the body with a knife to her severe injury at Morrison Crescent, Edinburgh, on October 22 last year.

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