A drunk Scots couple lashed out during a melee at a train station which saw a victim’s false teeth smashed by a punch. Meggan Hunter, 25, and Scott Watson, 40, attacked three people during the disturbance at Waverley railway station in Edinburgh.
A passerby who attempted to intervene was struck in the face by Watson and his dentures were destroyed. Edinburgh Sheriff Court heard Hunter and Watson, who have since split up, had been drinking heavily before the incident.
The pair appeared at the court on Monday when Hunter pled guilty to assaulting Sara Russell and Watson admitted assaults on Melissa Kavanaugh and Bruce Perry. Fiscal depute Abbie McKerlie said the co-accused had been walking over a bridge in the station at around 8.30pm.
Ms McKerlie said Sara made a comment to Hunter as she passed by. Hunter grabbed Sara by the hair, the court was told, and punched her on the head. The prosecutor said Melissa had tried to pull the women apart when Watson kicked her to the body.
The court heard passerby Bruce had approached the “melee” and tried to help Melissa when Watson punched him to the mouth. Ms McKerlie said the upper and lower parts of Bruce’s dentures were damaged and cost £500 to replace.
Sara suffered cuts and bruises to her arms and legs, the court heard. Defence agent Chris Fehily, representing Hunter, said his client told cops afterwards she’d had “too much to drink” on the night-out with then-boyfriend Watson.
Mr Fehily said they encountered the other group, who had also been drinking, and “words were exchanged”. The solicitor said Hunter, a carer with the NHS, had been “called names’ and “regrettably she lost her temper”.
Defence agent Colin Severin, representing Watson, said his client “was acting in defence of Ms Hunter”. Mr Severin said Watson had wrongly believed Bruce was “part of the fight” when he struck him during the encounter on August 24 2019.
Watson ran his own scaffolding firm, the court heard, and employed nine staff. Sheriff Norman McFadyen told the accused, both of Gorebridge, Midlothian, their behaviour was “deeply unpleasant and totally unnecessary”.
Hunter was fined £180 and ordered to pay Sara £300 in compensation. Watson, who had a previous conviction for assault, was fined £270 and told to pay £500 compensation to Bruce.
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