Nikita Bettles hit the woman with a broken bottle neck and left her with a laceration down the side of her face
Nikita Bettles(Image: Northumbria Police)
A mother-of-five left a woman with a nasty facial scar after attacking her with broken bottle outside a Sunderland bar. Nikita Bettles hit the woman with a broken bottle neck and left her with a laceration down the side of her face which had to be stitched up in hospital.
The attack was sparked following an earlier altercation which involved a friend of the victim and the mother of Bettles outside the Ttonic nightclub in the city centre. On Wednesday, Bettles, of Rotherham Road, Hylton Castle, Sunderland, appeared at Newcastle’s Moot Hall to be sentenced for unlawful wounding and possession of an offensive weapon. The 35-year-old had pleaded guilty to the offence.
The court heard that in the early hours of March 9, last year, the victim had finished working a shift at the nearby Borough bar and was out having drinks. She then saw one of her customers had been injured in an altercation outside Ttonic.
Claire Anderson, prosecuting, said: “She saw [the customer] being assaulted by a female and there was a verbal altercation between two groups, including the defendant. The complainant followed the defendant up the street and was telling her to leave or she’d be locked up.
“At this point the defendant pushed her twice and took an object in her hand. She raised a bottle neck above her head before swinging her right arm into [the victim’s] head.” The court heard the attack left the victim with a concussion and a deep laceration to her head which required stitches in hospital.
The court was told that before the attack, there was an earlier altercation which involved Bettles’ mother, who was knocked unconscious. Bettles had nine previous convictions for 19 offences, five of which were for violence.
Helen Towers, defending, said Bettles has autism spectrum disorder and is a mother to five children. She said: “She pleaded guilty at an early opportunity and has significant mental health difficulties [including] emotionally unstable personality disorder.
“She has shown significant remorse for her actions and is deeply ashamed of her behaviour.” Ms Towers said that Bettles is no longer dependent on alcohol and is “motivated to change”.
Recorder Felicity Davies said Bettles attacked the victim with a “thoroughly nasty and dangerous weapon”. She said: “The fact you were plainly intoxicated was major impetus for you to behave the way you did.”
The judge added there is a “realistic prospect of rehabilitation” and handed her a 15 month prison sentence, suspended for two years. She must also undertake a 120 day alcohol monitoring requirement and 30 rehabilitation days.