Cumbernauld woman who chased 12-year-old's with meat cleaver at funfair avoids jail

A woman armed with a meat cleaver sparked panic when she threatened and chased children at a funfair in Cumbernauld.

Georgina Laye told police officers who arrested her that she had intended to stab the 12-year-olds.

Laye, 34, of Cumbernauld, narrowly avoided a prison sentence when she appeared at Airdrie Sheriff Court. She admitted acting in a threatening or abusive manner at Antonine Shopping Centre, Cumbernauld, on February 11.

The charge stated that, while acting with a juvenile, Laye shouted abuse and threats, brandished a meat cleaver at three girls and two boys - all aged 12 - and chased two of the youngsters.

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The incident happened at around 5.30pm in the shopping centre car park where the funfair was taking place.

Flora McCamley, prosecuting, told the court: "The children were approached by Georgina Laye who challenged two of them over an unknown dispute, shouting and swearing at them.

"The young people dispersed in various directions and Laye followed two of them to a bus stop where there were another two children.

"She pointed a meat cleaver at them and asked 'Are you two part of this?'.

"Laye walked away but returned a few minutes later. She was speaking on her phone and pointed the meat cleaver at two young persons, saying 'All my cousins are coming up with machetes'.

"She then pursued the original two children, shouting threats and striking a fence and a wall with the meat cleaver.

"The police were contacted and officers attended quickly. They saw Laye brandish the meat cleaver towards two of the young persons and then throw it to the ground.

"She told officers 'I was going to stab them. You would too if you knew what he did.'

"She refused to divulge what she was referring to."

Sheriff Paul Haran told Laye it was a "very serious" matter, but he took into account she had no previous convictions.

The sheriff placed her under supervision for 18 months and ordered her to do 120 hours of unpaid community work as an alternative to a jail sentence.

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