A NEWPORT woman has been jailed for four years for glassing a man in the back of the head.

Emma Jane Hughson, 41, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to unlawfully and maliciously wounding David Shea on June 30.

Newport Crown Court heard Hughson attacked Mr Shea in the back of the head with the broken glass bottle, causing him to need stitches.

Prosecutor Joshua Scouller said: “The victim had been assisting the defendant with her housing issues and allowed her to stay at his house when he worked away and had recently asked her to leave.

“In the psychiatric report, she said that he used her as a prostitute, but his statement was that he asked her to leave because he found out she was a prostitute.”

On the morning of the attack, a friend contacted Mr Shea saying that the defendant was outside acting erratically. He left his flat and saw her and she was acting aggressively and accusing him of robbing her.

Mr Scouller said the victim felt what he thought was Hughson hitting him on the back of the head, but felt a wet patch and realised he was bleeding.

When Mr Shea accused Hughson of stabbing him, Mr Scouller said she replied: "Good.”

The police were called, and, on their arrival, saw that Hughson was still holding the broken glass and arrested her. She did not answer any questions during the initial questioning but later admitted responsibility.

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The court heard Hughson had texted her father before the attack, saying that she was going to do something that would send her back to prison.

Stuart John, defending, said that Hughson had accepted responsibility for the assault.

“The sad irony is that this defendant feels far safer in a prison environment than she does at liberty," he said.

“She feels she and the wider public would be protected if she is subjected to the restrictions an extended sentence would impose.

“She accepts that an extended sentence is best for her and for the wider community. She has always been accepting of her involvement in the assault.”

Mr John also said how Hughson had a troubled background and upbringing, and that there had been previous altercations between the defendant and victim.

“She said he did not deserve what she did to him,” he said.

Sentencing, Judge Michael Fitton QC said Hughson – who has 21 convictions for 42 offences, including another assault charge in 2019 – knew that the offence was serious, and sentenced her to four years in prison with an extended sentence of a further two years on licence.

But if she commits an offence when on probation, she would have to serve the full six years.

Speaking after the sentencing, PC Alex Dallimore said: “This was a violent attack on an innocent man.

“Thankfully the victim has made a full recovery, and I hope the sentencing of Hughson gives them some closure.

“A team of officers worked together to bring this prosecution, we won’t tolerate such acts of violence and will continue our efforts to bring such offenders to justice.”