Man charged with brutal machete attack of grandmother in her own home



Horrific injuries: Mary Coulter was left scarred for life and suffered serious head injuries and broken arms in the attack

A man has appeared in court charged with the attempted murder of a 76-year-old grandmother after she was attacked with a machete in her own home.

Grandmother-of-six Mary Coulter was left scarred for life and suffered serious head injuries and two broken arms in the attack at her home in Wishaw, North Lanarkshire, in the early hours of March 22.

The widow underwent an emergency blood tranfusion and facial reconstructive surgery spent weeks in hospital following the incident. She is now recovering at her daughter’s home.

Darryl Finnie, 27, from Carluke, South Lanarkshire, appeared at Hamilton Sheriff Court today charged with her attempted murder.

The case was adjourned and he was remanded in custody. He is expected to make a second court appearance in a week’s time.

A second man aged 27 has been reported to the procurator fiscal over the incident.

Following the alleged attack in March, Mrs Coulter’s daughter Helen Coulter,38, made a tearful plea for the public’s help in catching her attackers.

Lucky to be alive: Mary Coulter spent several weeks in hospital recovering from her wounds

A ruler from Strathclyde Police shows the severity of a scar running the length of Mrs Coulter's forehead

She said: 'Mum is a defenceless elderly woman who has never hurt anyone, now she is severely scarred for life.

'We can’t understand why anyone would carry out this cowardly attack.