Woman batters husband with baseball bat in campaign of drunken violence

Kimberley Bradley dodged jail at Hamilton Sheriff Court where it was heard she waged a three-and-a-half year campaign of violence against her partner, beating him with a baseball bat and throwing household items at him

A woman has walked free from court after beating her husband with a baseball bat in a horrifying campaign of violence.

Kimberley Bradley dodged jail for the attack on her partner at home in Hamilton, Lanarkshire, in which the court heard she repeatedly struck him and threw household items at him while drunk. The 39-year-old also punched and kicked him on the head and body on various occasions between March 2020 and September last year.

Bradley shouted, swore, uttered threats of violence, uttered offensive and abusive remarks towards him and sent threatening messages, as well as causing fear and alarm by carrying out a coercive course of conduct. He also had his phone, keys and wallet taken from him before police were called in.

Bradley appeared at Hamilton Sheriff Court and admitted charges of assault and stalking. Sheriff Liam Murphy ordered Bradley, of Hamilton, to carry out 120 hours of unpaid work and put her under supervision for a year.

Anna MacKay, defending, said: "She had a number of traumatic events which led to this period of offending behaviour. That combined with her excessive consumption of alcohol led to an unfortunate melting pot but she accepts full responsibility, pled guilty at the first stage and is remorseful.

"It is clearly a very serious matter and she is under no illusion about that. She can contribute to society going forward and it is my suggestion that she could be dealt with by way of a non-custodial sentence. She is engaging more positively with her mother and her colleagues which seems to be contributing to her being in a better place."

Sheriff Murphy said: "You engaged in a course of conduct which was violent and aggressive over a significant period of time. I have considered what has been said and what is contained in the report which says there was a diagnosis of PTSD and that alcohol was a significant factor but that you show insight into your behaviour.

"These are serious offences and the custody threshold has clearly been passed but there is a recommendation that there is an alternative available and I'm persuaded that is appropriate in this case." An allegation Bradley had acted in a threatening and abusive manner towards her mother-in-law was dropped by prosecutors.