Deliberate car attack lesbian sent to women's prison

Raging Cheryl Henderson deliberately mowed down her lover's ex-husband's sister's boyfriend following a row in a Kirkcaldy carpark.

09 March 2010 12:47 GMT

A furious lesbian who broke her lover's ex-husband's sister's boyfriend's legs by deliberately mowing him down in a car was jailed on Tuesday.

Cheryl Henderson pinned milkman Andrew Craven against a set of railings using a car she was not licenced or insured to drive during the incident in Kirkcaldy last September. He was left with such severe leg injuries that doctors had to insert pins and frames in both his lower limbs to repair the damage. He was left on crutches for three months and is expected to be unable to work for a year.

Judge Lord Pentland said Henderson had treated her car "as a weapon" and sentenced her to three years and nine months in a woman's prison. She was also banned from driving for seven years.

The High Court in Dumbarton heard that 23-year-old Henderson, who has never held a driving licence, rammed Mr Craven "at speed" after an encounter in a car park while he was walking his dog.

The court heard Henderson and her partner had been due to go on a date that evening. After dropping Henderson's lover's children and their babysitter off to go to a chip shop, the pair waited in a car park at in Kirkcaldy's Alford Avenue. Mr Craven was walking his dog there and became involved in a row with Henderson.

Prosecutor Leanne Cross said that on-lookers saw Mr Craven take something from his pocket. He said it was a lighter though, after the incident, Henderson claimed she thought it was a knife.

As he waved it above his head, Henderson, who has previous convictions for robbery and assault, put her foot on the accelerator and sped towards him.

Ms Cross said: "She mounted the kerb and struck Mr Craven with the front end of the vehicle, pinning him against the railings."

She added: "She drove straight for Mr Craven and made no attempt to stop."

Henderson, of Ailsa Grove, Kirkcaldy, pleaded guilty to assaulting Mr Craven to the danger of his life. An allegation that the incident was attempted murder was dropped.

Defence lawyer Matt Jackson, defending, said Henderson was in "a long term relationship" with her female lover, who was not present in court, adding: "She is remaining loyal to my client.

"Miss Henderson shows deep sorrow and regret for her actions and she is very mindful of the injury she has caused the complainer.

"She has a long criminal record. She had a difficult upbringing. She has suffered from ADHD since she was a child, and she has spent time in foster care."

Lord Pentland added: "In determining sentence I take fully into account what was said on your behalf, but I'm left with a case where you drove a car which you were not qualified or insured to drive, and you drove it into the complainer.

"He required substantial treatment for his injuries which will require him to take time off work.

"Using a motor car as a weapon shows a high degree of malice. You have a string of previous convictions. It is clear from your disgraceful record that you have been given numerous opportunities to live a law-abiding lifestyle. I see no reason why you should be given further chances.

"Had it not been for your early guilty plea you would have been given five years."

A smirking Henderson was then led to the cells.

She will serve her sentence at Cornton Vale women's prison near Stirling. Scotland's former chief inspector of prisons, Clive Fairweather, described the institution as one where staff witnessed "a cult of lesbianism".

From: http://news.stv.tv/scotland/east-central/162387-deliberate-car-attack-lesbian-sent-to-womens-prison/09 March 2010 12:47 GMT