A coked-up Chippenham woman attacked a man after she was kicked out of a house party.
Amber Burrows, who also uses the surname Markiton, was sentenced for offences of assault by beating and criminal damage at Swindon Magistrates’ Court today (21 April).
Prosecutor Keith Ballinger said the 31-year-old, of Royal Oak Close, had been invited to a friend’s house for a “nice evening and drinks”, and attended alongside her boyfriend.
As the evening progressed on 21 November last year, Burrows consumed large amounts of alcohol and became agitated and abusive – repeatedly announcing that she wanted cocaine.
On a number of occasions, she asked fellow partygoers to source her the drug, but they all refused – stating they did not know how or where to get it.
Burrows continued to kick off about the lack of the illicit substance, before going to the bathroom. One of the attendees later checked on her and found she had self-harmed.
She calmed down for a short time before becoming aggressive. Following an altercation with another partygoer, she was told the leave the address.
Shouting and swearing, Burrows kicked and punched the door, and attempted to get back inside. The party host managed to close the door, but he accidentally trapped her arm.
She rushed towards him in an attempt to re-enter, grabbing his arm and ripping his t-shirt. As a result, he suffered bruising and scratches from her nails.
The defendant then broke the door to the main building, owned by Wiltshire Council, but “hitting it with force” – resulting in £154.62 worth of damage.
Richard Williams, defending, said his client would “not usually behave in that manner at all”, claiming she was being controlled by her partner and struggling in a difficult relationship.
He said that Burrows accepts she “overindulged in alcohol and did take some cocaine, and wanted more”.
Mr Williams said she does not usually drink but on this night, she wanted to “let off some emotion” and was her “mental health was suffering”. He said she “very seldom takes unlawful drugs” – labelling the incident as a “one-off”.
To show her remorse following the assault, she sent the part host £10 to pay for the damage to his t-shirt.
Burrows was told to pay a £90 fine for the assault and £154.62 compensation to Wiltshire Council. No costs or surcharge were imposed due to her lack of means to pay the money.
