Rugby woman threw a watch at a former friend's head after an argument in a pub, causing a wound which bled profusely

After a Rugby woman came across a former friend in a pub, she threw a watch at her, hitting her to the head and causing a wound which bled profusely.

But mother-of-five Warner Morris spared a prison sentence after being given a warning by a judge at Warwick Crown Court.

Morris (29) of Franklin Close, Rugby, who had pleaded guilty to assault, was handed an 18-month community order with a rehabilitation activity for 30 days.

Prosecutor Tim Harrington said Morris and her victim had once been friends until they fell out with each-other about ten years ago.

In November 2019 the victim went out with friends into Rugby town centre and ended up in the Black Swan pub where they saw Morris, who was also there with friends.

There was an argument between the two women, and the victim says she tried to make the peace before walking away.

But Morris approached her again, and as the argument continued it became heated, as a result of which Morris and her friends were ejected.

She remained outside, and when the victim then also left, ‘they both sought out a confrontation,’ and had to be restrained by doormen, said Mr Harrington.

When she was released, Morris ‘moved towards her and threw a watch at her which hit her on the head, causing a wound which bled profusely.’

“Thankfully it was not as serious as it might have been, and it healed within a couple of weeks and, having been butterfly-stitched, it is unlikely to be a permanent scar.”

When Morris was arrested she said she had had a lot to drink and could not remember a great deal about the incident, but could remember throwing the watch.

Amy Jackson, defending, said Morris, who had no previous convictions, was a mother-of-five, and was the sole carer for the four youngest, although the oldest lives with her mother.

“This was undoubtedly an unpleasant incident, but it is one which appears to be somewhat out of character.”

Miss Jackson said that because she had children to care for at home, Morris would only go out with friends to a pub about once every three months.

“At the time she was suffering emotionally from the breakdown of a relationship. Having drunk too much, when she saw an old friend who she had fallen out with, things bubbled over, and she accepts things got entirely out of hand.”

Sentencing Morris, Recorder Balraj Bhatia QC told her: “You are now 29 years of age and a woman of good character, and you have responsibilities for a number of young children.

“But you know that this incident, now some time ago, was rather foolish, no doubt due to too much drink by all concerned, and feelings which should have been buried a long time ago should never have surfaced.

“It simply is a question of time and place, you by accident being in the same place as her.

“I accept there was not much to choose between you, but where it went beyond that was you using your watch as a weapon and throwing it at her.”

Recorder Bhatia said the assault did not cross the custody threshold, and he rejected a suggestion in a pre-sentence report that Morris could be made subject to a curfew.

He told her: “I don’t think there is a need for a curfew. With the young children you have, I imagine nights out are few and far between.”