A TRAUMATISED woman who ‘self-medicated’ with alcohol turned up at her former boyfriend’s home late at night and yelled abuse at him and his new partner.

Jacqueline Carruthers, 58, began using the mug she was holding to bang on the living room window of the man’s York Gardens home in Carlisle and when he challenged her she responded by saying: “Hit me; hit me.”

At the city’s Rickergate Magistrates’ Court, Carruthers pleaded guilty to criminal damage and using threatening behaviour.

Prosecutor John Moran described how victim Stuart Parkinson had been at his home at 11.30pm with his partner when the defendant turned up outside and began banging on the window.

“The defendant was shouting abuse at him and his new partner,” said Mr Moran. “He told her to go away but the abuse continued.

“She was pacing up and down outside, knocking on the window with the mug; the knocking got louder and louder. At this point, he decided to call the police. He went out and asked what she was playing at.

“She said: ‘Come on: hit me; hit me.’” He could tell she was drunk, said Mr Parkinson. He is in shock; and he is fearful that she will damage the property and fearful of what could take place.”

There were numerous marks on the living room window, which would have to be repaired. Mr Moran added: “It’s not the first time she had come round shouting abuse and it only happens when she’s intoxicated.

“It’s happened three or four times in the past 12 months and it does have a negative impact on him. He doesn’t understand why she can’t leave him and his new partner alone.”

Sara Budniak, for Carruthers, outlined the defendant’s mental health problems, which include a non-specific personality disorder, issues around alcohol dependence and possible bipolar disorder.

The lawyer said that Carruthers suffered a serious trauma some years ago and she had issues arising out of her time living in Iraq during the invasion in the 1980s.

Miss Budniak continued: “She has self-medicated with alcohol and it has reacted with the type of medication she is on; it makes her react in a paranoid way… Her community psychiatric nurse finds her to be a person of exceptional character”

The lockdown had had a significant effect on the defendant’s mental health.

The lawyer added: “She would never had behaved in that way if she had been sober. She realises that she needs to deal with things in a different way; and she is remorseful. She hasn’t had an alcohol for two months.”Magistrates imposed an eight week overnight curfew. The defendant, formerly of York Gardens but now of South Henry Street, Carlisle, must pay £200 for the window, £85 costs and a £95 surcharge.