Woman fined for assault on leader

29 July 2011 Last updated at 12:38 GMT John Stewart was assaulted in Aberdeen's Kirkgate Bar A woman who assaulted former Aberdeen City Council leader John Stewart in a pub as he was "cheeky" has been fined.

Council employee Sally Farrer, 37, hit Mr Stewart in the Kirkgate Bar, near the council headquarters, on 3 March, when he was leader.

Lib Dem Mr Stewart - who announced in June he was stepping down - was injured in the attack.

Morgue worker Farrer admitted the offence at Aberdeen Justice of the Peace Court and was fined ?160.

Fiscal depute Kelly Mitchell said Farrer approached Mr Stewart and told him she was unhappy with her living situation.

The court heard Mr Stewart gave Farrer advice and contact details for her local councillor.

However, the fiscal depute said Farrer returned to the bar almost six hours later and attacked Mr Stewart.

She said: "The accused punched him twice on the face, shouting 'you had no intention of helping me'.

"She was banned from the premises and police were called."

Defence agent Ian Merideth said: "She remembers being under the impression that the complainer had said something that she found quite cheeky and lashed out at him.

"She accepts that this is unacceptable."

Farrer was also handed an exclusion order banning her from the bar for three months.

She declined to comment as she left court.

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