Evening Telegraph (First Edition)

Repeat offender told to ‘conquer demons’

A WOMAN who attacked a pregnant stranger on a Dundee bus and lashed out at an off-duty police officer with a wine bottle was told by a sheriff, “conquer your demons”.

Natalie Hawes, 29, choked the pregnant woman and tried to punch her in the stomach after boarding a bus while under the influence.

Repeat offender Hawes has now been given the opportunit­y to engage with services and the social work department.

Sheriff George Way warned her yesterday: “You are not just risking going to prison. You are risking going to prison for a very long time.”

Dundee Sheriff Court heard how on February 20 2023, an off-duty police officer was carrying his young son on his shoulders when he encountere­d Hawes on Carlochie Place, where she lives. She was under the influence of either alcohol or drugs and stumbled backwards.

The man asked Hawes if she was OK but she immediatel­y became aggressive and abusive.

Despite trying to walk away, the man was harassed by Hawes, who then swung a wine bottle at him and tried to strike him. Prosecutor Douglas Thomson said the officer took his son off his shoulders and restrained Hawes.

On March 27 last year, Hawes was acting erraticall­y in the Arklay Street area and brushed past a teenage girl who was 20 weeks pregnant.

Mr Thomson said: “The bus was busy and the complainer and her friend were stood near the front of the bus.

“The accused had been running around the street and into the road.

“She pushed past the complainer who said ‘watch out I’m pregnant’ to which the accused said ‘does it look like I give a f***?’

“The accused grabbed her by the throat with her right hand and squeezed.”

Sheriff Way said he would not interfere with the progress Hawes had been making under the supervisio­n of the social work department.

Hawes will return to court in February.