A TWENTY-ONE-YEAR-OLD who assaulted a woman to her severe injury in a local public house has been ordered to carry out 70 hours of unpaid work.

Danae Aghakhan, of Oliver Crescent, Hawick, pleaded guilty to kicking and striking the woman on the head and body in the Exchange Bar on September 19, 2020.

Fiona Hamilton, prosecuting, told a previous hearing of Jedburgh Sheriff Court that the victim entered the bar around 7pm with friends.

At around 8.50pm she was going to leave for a taxi when Aghakhan approached her and kicked her to the ribs.

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Ms Hamilton continued: “She fell to the ground and the accused continued to kick her to the body and punched her to the head. Other parties got involved and they were separated.”

The fiscal said the woman went home and to bed but was suffering from pain and following a medical assessment was referred to Borders General Hospital where it revealed she had suffered a fractured rib. She also had fluid in the lung which turned into chest infection.

The court was told that the victim was in a relationship with Aghakhan’s former partner.

Sheriff Peter Paterson said: “This is a serious matter especially due to the injuries involved.”