A VIOLENT woman teamed up with a pal to attack a vulnerable and unsuspecting Greenock train passenger - with his OWN crutch.

Chloe Fitzgerald and co-accused Donna Bryce ambushed the man within the car park of Branchton Railway Station at night.

The pair inflicted an unprovoked beating on their victim which left him further injured.

However, Fitzgerald - who is said to have little recollection of the incident due to to being intoxicated on drink and drugs at the time - appears set to escape punishment for the offence.

A sheriff has decided to defer sentence on her for a period of time on condition that she stays out of further trouble.

A court hearing heard that 28-year-old Fitzgerald and Bryce, 35, acted together in repeatedly booting the man after knocking him to the ground, in full view of CCTV cameras, in October 2020.

Procurator fiscal depute Fergus Warner said: "The complainer left the train and the accused pair walked a short distance ahead of him and waited for him at the car park.

"They approached him and a verbal altercation ensued for a short period.

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"The accused Bryce kicked the witness several times then picked up his crutch and struck him with it.

"Bryce dropped it on the ground and Fitzgerald then picked it up and struck him with it.

"She walked away and Bryce continued to strike the complainer several times with the crutch."

Police were called as well as an ambulance for the victim, who suffered a cut but had no other injuries.

Fitzgerald and Bryce were later traced and arrested by officers.

Defence solicitor Eliott Gemmell told the court: "The incident was nigh on three years ago, at a time when things really started to go south for Miss Fitzgerald.

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"There was a pattern of compulsive and reckless behaviour and this was the first sign of that.

"Alcohol and drugs were a coping mechanism for her problems.

"She does not seek to excuse her behaviour on this occasion but she played a minor role in this assault.

"She struggles to recollect what has taken place and had no prior knowledge of the victim."

Mr Gemmell said Fitzgerald 'now seems to be in a much better frame of mind', having spent time in custody since the incident.

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He added: "She has come a significantly long way from the person she was when she committed this offence."

Sheriff Colin Bissett deferred sentence for three months for Fitzgerald, who now lives in Kilmarnock, to be of good behaviour.

She will return to Greenock Sheriff Court on December 6.

Her co-accused was previously fined £550 with no time to pay and is currently serving a custodial sentence.