Jail for smashing bottle on man's head

Caren Beverly Inwood, 46, admitted assault with a weapon and was sentenced in Masterton District Court to seven months' imprisonment.

An "intelligent, professional" Masterton woman who lay in wait and walloped a man over the head with a full bottle of wine has been jailed.

Caren Beverly Inwood, 46, admitted assault with a weapon and was sentenced to seven months' imprisonment when she appeared in Masterton District Court on Thursday.

Inwood was originally charged with wounding with intent regarding the incident outside the victim's workplace on September 23 but pleaded to the amended charge.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Garry Wilson said Inwood waited outside the man's place of work and walked up behind him, hitting him on the top of the head with the bottle of wine which smashed, causing a 2cm gash in the top of his head requiring medical attention.

When spoken to by police, she said she did it as a spur of the moment thing and didn't regret doing it.

Lawyer Virginia Pearson said her client had a significant alcohol problem, which had affected her judgment. She was trying to get help for her addiction.

Judge Ian Mill said Inwood was an intelligent woman with little previous history of offending but who "grappled with alcoholism".

"It's very sad it has come to this ... it's quite clear when you are sober you are quite a different person ... it could have been quite serious. It was a serious assault in public. Essentially, you had no cause to hit him. I doubt you would have done it if you were sober."

Along with the seven-month jail term, Inwood is subject to six months' post-release conditions to attend drug and alcohol counselling or a residential programme as directed by her probation officer.