Greenock woman admits attack on door steward at The Exchange

Shannon O'Neal also bit a police officer on the body following the shocking incident at The Exchange on Ann Street.

The 29-year-old pleaded guilty at Greenock Sheriff Court this week to two allegations of assault.

O'Neal admitted pushing and kicking the steward, spitting blood on his face and body, and repeatedly attempting to strike him with a knife or similar implement on the night of January 20.

She pleaded guilty to a further charge of assaulting a police officer at Greenock police station on the same night by biting her on the body to her injury.

The shocking attack happened outside The Exchange on Ann Street. (Image: Newsquest)Fiscal depute Kirstin Brierley told the court that O’Neal had been within The Exchange at around 10:20pm on the night of the incident.

Ms Brierley added: “The witness was made aware of a female whose behaviour required her to be removed from the licenced premises.”

O’Neal was subsequently spoken to, and left the bar.

A few moments later, Ms Brierley said, the door steward became aware of an ‘altercation’ nearby, and saw O’Neal returning with blood on her lip.

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O'Neal became violent towards him when he told her she would not be allowed back into the pub.

He restrained O’Neal, but she continued to lash out and kicked him on the leg.

O’Neal then walked away from the pub, but turned back to spit blood at the man.

Around half an hour later, Ms Brierley continued, the door steward was standing in front of The Exchange when O’Neal returned and began to run towards him.

Greenock Sheriff Court, where Shannon O'Neal pleaded guilty to two charges of assault. (Image: NQ) He retreated into the venue, with O’Neal ‘swinging’ a knife towards him in the foyer area.

Ms Brierley told the court: “Staff closed the shutters down for the safety of their staff and patrons.”

Police were contacted and later traced O’Neal at her home address.

When officers explained why they'd come to her home, O'Neal claimed: “I’m the one that got attacked by a bouncer.”

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Police noted O’Neal to be intoxicated, and described her behaviour as ‘erratic’.

She was arrested and taken to Greenock police office, but assaulted a female officer after she was taken out of a cell van.

O'Neal, the court heard, leaned over and bit the constable, who was attempting to ‘fix’ O’Neal’s top in a bid to ‘protect her dignity’.

Ms Brierley added: “The accused was not charged due to her intoxicated and aggressive state.”

O'Neal bit a female officer at Greenock police station after being arrested. (Image: George Munro) Defence solicitor David Tod said: “There are family circumstances that are relevant to the commission of the offence.”

Sheriff Anthony McGeehan told O’Neal, of Bow Road, he would require social work reports before deciding on an appropriate sentence.

Her bail was continued and she will return to court for sentencing on December 18.