A HELENSBURGH woman who assaulted a 16-year-old girl outside a shop in the town has been ordered to do unpaid work as a punishment.

Emily Clerk, 27, of West Princes Street brandished a screwdriver at the teenager and pushed her on the body near the McColl’s store in the same street on October 25.

At Dumbarton Sheriff Court on February 15, Sarah Healing, prosecuting, said the assault happened after an “exchange of words” between the pair.

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Ms Healing added: “The accused then produced a screwdriver, which she brandished at the complainer, who then ran off.”

Lauren Kerr, defending, said: “Her position is that there have been ongoing incidents between Miss Clerk and the complainer.

“This is a first offence. A community payback order would assist her in relation to alcohol and drug use, her mental health and her decision making; those are things she recognises she needs assistance with.”

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Sheriff William Gallacher told Clerk: “To have in your possession an item like this is utterly unacceptable, and the consequences could have been very serious.

“This should never have happened.”

Clerk was told to carry out 75 hours of unpaid work within four months; she will also be supervised by a social worker until February 2021.

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