LOCHGELLY WOMAN JENNA PATTERSON ESCAPES JAIL DESPITE 'EXTRAORDINARY VIOLENCE' IN FIFE AND CUFAR

A woman from Lochgelly, Jenna Paterson, aged 20, who carried out a series of violent and abusive acts against her partners, has narrowly avoided imprisonment despite the severity of her actions. The case was heard at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court, where the sheriff described the violence as 'extraordinary' and committed within a domestic setting.

Paterson, who has recently been held at HMP Polmont, admitted to multiple assaults on her then-partner spanning over a year, from August 1, 2018, to December 11, 2019. These incidents took place at the Tarvit Mill Hostel in Cupar, Fife, and involved brutal attacks that resulted in serious injuries and permanent disfigurement for her victim. The court heard that her assaults included the use of various objects such as a vacuum cleaner accessory, a pole, a vase, a piece of wood, and a table leg, all wielded over a period of approximately 15 months.

In addition to these charges, Paterson also pleaded guilty to attacking another former partner at an address in Forth Park Drive, Kirkcaldy, on May 26 of this year. During this incident, she repeatedly punched and kicked her victim, causing her to fall and sustain head injuries. The court was told that her actions caused significant harm and distress to her victims.

During the sentencing hearing conducted via video link, Sheriff James Williamson emphasized the gravity of the violence, stating, “This was an extraordinary level of violence perpetrated by you in a domestic setting and ordinarily it would attract a custodial sentence.” Despite this, the sheriff decided against imposing a jail term, citing Paterson’s age, her remorse, and her efforts to seek help and change her behavior as mitigating factors.

Her solicitor, Iain McCafferty, acknowledged that her conduct was unacceptable but pointed out that Paterson had not had the best start in life. He revealed that she has been diagnosed with emotionally vulnerable personality disorder and is actively working towards behavioral improvement.

As part of her sentence, Sheriff Williamson imposed a three-year supervised community payback order, which includes 150 hours of unpaid work to be completed within a year. Additionally, she was given a three-month restriction of liberty order and a two-year non-harassment order to prevent her from contacting her victims. Paterson was also ordered to attend courses addressing her mental health and alcohol issues and is prohibited from entering into new relationships without prior approval from her supervising officer.