A WEST Cumbrian woman who has admitted two alcohol-related assaults told a judge: “I’ve stopped drinking.”

Ellie Ryan, 23, made the comment to a judge at Carlisle Crown Court and vowed never to repeat her mistake after her barrister said she had turned her life around since she committed the offences in 2020.

The defendant, of Windebrowe Avenue, Keswick, had earlier admitted two common assaults, including one on her boyfriend. 

Claire Larton, prosecuting, said the first offence happened on October 2, 2020, after Ryan went to a party in Whitehaven and socialised with a group of young women.

She knew only one of the group well.

“Miss Ryan knocked over a table of drinks and she was asked to sit down,” said the barrister. “But she took umbrage with that comment and an argument ensued between her and [the young woman she later admitted assaulting].”

Ryan first insulted the woman, then picked up the glass of vodka an lemonade, and threw it into the woman’s face. As a result of her outburst, she was asked to leave. The second assault happened several weeks later, on December 12.

“The defendant went to the home address of her ex-boyfriend,” explained Miss Larton. Their relationship – described as “volatile” – had ended some months earlier and the young man had by this time found a new partner, said the barrister.

Arriving at the man’s home at 2.30am, Ryan, clearly in drink, began banging on the door. She was holding a washing pole prop, and said that she wanted to “kill” the man’s new partner, who was in the house.

As the victim opened the door to try to reason with her, Ryan began punching out at him. A struggle ensued as Ryan began screaming and thrashing about, said Miss Larton.

The defendant left when she realised that the police – called by the victim’s new partner – were on their way. The court heard that Ryan had previous convictions, which included an assault causing actual bodily harm and a public order offence.

Kim Whittlestone, defending, said that Ryan’s relationship with her ex had been toxic but in the last six months the defendant had “made a complete U-turn” in many areas of her life.

She had been drinking to excess and her mental health was an issue. But now she had started working in a Carlisle bar and sought help for her mental health.

She also had a new partner and had undergone counselling.

Judge Suzanne Goddard QC told the defendant: “You have clearly had something of a troubled upbringing and a difficult childhood.” Against a background of complex mental health needs, Ryan had indulged in binge-drinking, something which was not uncommon amongst teenagers and girls, said the judge.

“Unlike most girls, it leads you to trouble,” said the judge. “You didn’t learn from your early experience, and you are back before the court again.”

But the judge accepted that Ryan had changed. Judge Goddard said: “You might want to consider whether you really ought to be every having a drink again.”

It was at this point that Ryan said she no longer does drink. The judge imposed an 18-month community order, with 20 rehabilitation activity days and 100 hours of unpaid work.

The judge suggested Ryan should write an apology letter to the girl she assaulted, adding that such offences can result in terrible facial scarring for some victims.