Woman jailed for attacking man in Belfast city centre with pair of scissors
Taylor Lippiatt, 25, of no fixed abode in Belfast, was jailed for 14 months on Wednesday for attacking a man in Belfast city centre with a pair of scissors. She pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm, possession of an offensive weapon, and two counts of assault on police officers.
The incident occurred in full view of the public. According to the prosecutor, "The fight even spilled onto the road and a number of motorists had to drive around the pair." The defendant was armed with scissors throughout.
"The defendant was at all times the aggressor. The male did not even try to defend himself or he was incapable of doing because of his intoxicated state," the prosecutor said. CCTV footage showed Lippiatt with her arms around the victim's neck, holding him to the ground for several seconds. A female member of the public attempted to intervene but was unsuccessful. After approximately three minutes, Lippiatt got up and walked away, leaving the victim on the ground holding his bleeding ear.
Police officers arrested her at Belfast City Chicken, noting she was intoxicated and slurring her words. She still had the scissors in her hands with blood on them. Following her arrest, Lippiatt struck out at two PSNI officers, shouting and screaming, and refused to calm down. During her police interview, she answered "no comment" to all questions.
The court heard Lippiatt has 34 previous convictions, including eight for assault on police, common assaults, a serious assault, and six for resisting police. At the time of the incident, she was in breach of a suspended sentence for assault on police.
Judge Kerr cited aggravating factors including the use of a weapon, her intoxication, the public and broad daylight nature of the assault, the victim's vulnerability, and her relevant record for violence. The Probation Board assessed her as having a high likelihood of reoffending but did not believe she posed a danger to the public. The report noted that Lippiatt is now remorseful and regretful for her actions, and that custody has been the most settled she has been.