A YOUNG mum has been warned a prison sentence is a “possibility” after she threw a bottle which hit and injured a fellow Carlisle clubber.
Jade Marie Haughan, 25, had denied a charge which alleged she unlawfully and maliciously wounded Bethany Johnstone, following an incident inside the now-closed Outrageous bar, English Street, on September 20 last year.
Haughan had been due to face trial in front of a jury at Carlisle Crown Court. However, she pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of assaulting Miss Johnstone, causing her actual bodily harm.
Prosecutor Wayne Jackson told Judge Julie Clemitson that was deemed an acceptable alternative plea following discussions with the victim, police officers in the case and the Crown Prosecution Service.
A bottle is said to have been thrown by Haughan which hit Miss Johnstone in the face but did not smash. However, she did suffer an injury to her lip of which Mr Jackson said: “It is healing.”
Judge Clemitson adjourned the case after the prosecution announced it would seek a detailed victim impact statement from Miss Johnstone.
A probation service pre-sentence report will also be prepared on Haughan, of Brookside, Carlisle, who was described as a woman of previous good character and the sole carer of two young children.
Haughan is due to be sentenced at the crown court on January 8, and in the meantime was granted bail. One condition prohibits her from having direct contact with any prosecution witnesses in the case.
“By giving you bail and adjourning the case for the preparation of a pre-sentence report, I am not giving you any indication as to what the sentence is likely to be,” Judge Clemitson told Haughan.
“A custodial sentence remains a possibility. You must prepare yourself for that possibility.”
