A woman who threw a glass at a teenager during a drunken birthday party claimed she had turned to booze because of lockdown.

The incident at a caravan park in Dymchurch left the victim with a permanent scar to his face, Maidstone Crown Court heard.

The 38-year-old cleaner Kelly Madigan, of Coast Drive, Greatstone, admitted a charge of unlawful wounding - an offence which carries a maximum five-year jail term.

However, the reveller escaped an immediate jail sentence - but has now been banned from drinking for 90 days.

Prosecutor Ian Foinette said that on July 19 last year Madigan was at a birthday bash at the New Beach Caravan Park when an argument broke out about children playing with a wheelchair.

“That proved to be the flashpoint between a few people who had been drinking. The victim was inside one of the caravans when he heard shouting outside. He heard a female shouting: ‘You are a ****** ****’.”

As he went down the steps of the caravan he was hit hard to the right side of his head.

The prosecutor said: “Madigan had thrown a glass and as he was then taken to hospital, she was heard to say: “Yeah I threw it. He called me a ****.”

Both were taken to hospital and treated separately for head cuts and the wounds were glued..

Stephanie Panchkowry, defending, said Madigan was “extremely remorseful” and had never been a drinker prior to the pandemic.

“She was left locked in with her children while her partner was out working. She would clean the house and end up having a glass of wine... and that ended up being more and more.”

The lawyer said that after another episode of drunkenness, Madigan’s partner warned her that the drinking could destroy the family. "She no longer drinks any alcohol," he added.

The judge, Recorder Patricia Hitchcock QC, gave her a 12-month jail sentence suspended for 18 months, ordered her to carry out 140 hours of unpaid work and pay the victim £1,500 in compensation.

She said: “It is clear you turned to alcohol to cope with the stress.”

The judge also ruled that Madigan couldn’t drink for 90 days - and would be tested to ensure she obeyed the prohibition.

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