Trash gash woman sentenced

A woman who put broken glass in her rubbish bag, badly gashing a rubbish collector's leg, has been told to do 40 hours of community service.

Sarah Scanlon appeared in court on Friday after earlier pleading guilty to breaching the Waitakere City Council's waste bylaw.

The West Harbour woman was charged after putting an unwrapped broken window pane into a plastic rubbish bag and leaving it out for collection last October.

The rubbish collector, Sione Li, received a serious gash to his leg and needed hospital treatment.

The council said the prosecution was taken because of the severity of the injury.

The offence carries a maximum sentence of a $20,000 fine, but Judge Philip Recordan said he was aware Scanlon was a beneficiary with two young children.

He required her to complete 40 hours of community work before the case was recalled on June 4 to settle outstanding matters relating to costs and reparations.