Sentence increased for woman guilty of baseball bat attack

The appeal judges increase the sentence by 15 months at Douglas Courthouse

A woman who took part in a baseball bat attack on a man has had her prison sentence increased by the appeal court.

Dawn Neeson, of Ramsey, was jailed for two-and-a-half years in April after admitting wounding with intent to commit grievous bodily harm and possession of an offensive weapon.

Appeal court judges said the sentence passed by Deemster Graeme Cook in Douglas had been "unduly lenient".

The panel increased her jail term to three years and nine months.

Judge of Appeal Anthony Cross KC, Deemster Andrew Corlett and Acting Deemster Sir Nigel Teare heard the appeal.

Neeson was arrested along with Eric Carbutt on 17 June 2022 after a call was made to the emergency services' joint control room about a man swinging a baseball bat in the St Paul's Square area.

There was also a report of the victim being assaulted with the bat on Ramsey Promenade.

Witnesses reported seeing Neeson, of Waterloo Road, swinging the bat at the victim's head during the attack.

Ruling on the appeal, the judges said the original starting point for Neeson's sentence was "too low" and the deemster had "erred in law".

The panel quashed the original sentence and handed down the increased one.

Carbutt was jailed for seven years in April for drugs offences and the baseball bat attack.

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