Privately-educated model who glassed woman and slapped cop is spared jail to volunteer at South African animal charity
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A privately-educated model who glassed a woman and slapped a police officer was spared jail to volunteer at an animal charity in South Africa.
Sophia Brogan-Higgins, 22, smashed a glass into Justina Liutkute's forehead at The Box Soho nightclub, London, where guests have included Prince Harry, Kate Moss, Emma Watson and Keira Knightley.
Brogan-Higgins, who broke her false nails during the incident, then kicked and slapped PC Alistair Skelton before she was dragged away from the scene at 4am on July 21.
The former private schoolgirl - educated at £12,190-a-term St Edward's School in Oxford - lives in an eight-bed detached home worth £6.75m in Wandsworth, with her wealthy parents William and Joanna Brogan-Higgins.
Shortly after her arrest, she told police she would not answer questions until her dad arrived.
Judge Susan Baines handed Brogan-Higgins a 20-week suspended sentence after her defence barrister Andrew Moxon told a court his client was planning to fly to Cape Town, South Africa, to work for an animal charity.
The case comes just two months after another young woman was spared a custodial sentence by a judge who ruled she was "too clever for jail".
(Image: central news)
Lavinia Woodward - an Oxford medical student who hoped to become a surgeon - admitted stabbing her Tinder lover Thomas Fairclough but escaped with a suspended sentence.
Sentencing Brogan-Higgins, Judge Baines said: "It is very sad to see someone like you in front of a court for the offences that I heard about at the trial.
"Obviously I had the ability to see the CCTV footage and it was of great concern what I saw because you were completely out of control on the night.
"The situation for people who were simply doing their jobs is unacceptable - your behaviour was simply not acceptable.
"I am obviously prepared to accept that you have obvious mental health issues, had the court found that the assault was a deliberate, intentional assault you would be going straight to prison because she could have been injured very seriously.
"I am going to impose a custodial sentence, 20 weeks suspended for a year.
"I can tell from what I have read about you that you are an intelligent person, now I hope that you reflect on your behaviour because it is very serious."
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Mr Moxon said: "She is due to do that work for two and a half weeks and her family will be going out to South Africa to join her, her father works in Dubai and they felt this was an opportunity for them all to meet halfway.
"If she was required to do an RAR [Rehabilitation Activity Requirement], the issue would be that tag wouldn't work in South Africa.
"What I am being told by the probation officer is that if you impose this order on her then it would begin immediately and she would expected to do an induction course within the next three days."
The suspended sentence allowed Brogan-Higgins to jet off to Cape Town.
The judge added: "I hope the trip to South Africa goes really well and sets you off on a good path."
(Image: Central News)
Brogan-Higgins was convicted of assaulting Ms Liutkute and PC Skelton after a short trial at Hammersmith Magistrates' Court last month.
Ms Liutkute had told the model she "was not allowed in a certain VIP area" at the Box Nightclub.
Brogan-Higgins told the security guard: "B****, you don't know how to do your job, don't touch me because it's like sexual harassment."
Ms Liutkute, 33, was escorting Brogan-Higgins out of the club when the clubber punched her in the face holding a glass.
In a statement, she said: "The lady tried to throw a punch at my face with the hand that she was holding the glass in.
"She thrusted it with real force."
(Image: Central News)
Ms Liutkute received first aid for a two-inch wound above her left eye and took two weeks off work after she was stitched up in hospital.
Brogan-Higgins was then detained by three male security guards and taken into a holding room where she continued to lash out.
Prosecutor Umar Ali said: "PC Skelton located Higgins within the club and asked Higgins to give an account of what happened.
"Higgins refused to make any comment until her dad arrived.
"PC Skelton noticed dried blood on Higgins hands and left forearm.
"Higgins would not respond as to where the marks had come from
"Higgins then accused PC Skelton of being rude to her.
"PC Skelton then noticed Higgins picks up a packet of wet wipes and took one from the packet.
"Suspecting Higgins might try to wipe off the areas of dried blood PC Skelton took hold of her forearms to stop her.
"Higgins then started struggling and without warning kicked PC Skelton in the stomach followed by a slap to his face."
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PC Skelton told the court: "She kicked me, she struck me in the lower abdomen.
"What I remember is I grabbed hold of her leg and then she struck me in the face with her right hand in a slapping motion."
PC Skelton's body camera filmed Brogan-Higgins kicking and screaming on the floor and telling officers "you're hurting me" as she was arrested.
The officer said: "She picked up a wipe, she's holding it in front of her body, she has blood on her hands and on her arms so I thought it was most likely what was going to happen.
"My opinion was that she was trying to wipe her hands and destroy what could be forensic evidence."
Brogan-Higgins denied assaulting Ms Liutkute and told the court: "All I can remember is that I felt scared of her being close to me, I would never want to hurt someone I just needed some space.
"I do not remember ever touching her face, it would be completely out of character for me to ever touch someone's face."
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She also denied assaulting PC Skelton and said: "I did not mean to kick him or hurt him. I wasn't trying to hurt physically, I just needed to get him away from me.
"I wasn't in a fit state, I think he could clearly see that because I had been drinking and I had been in a nightclub and I was having a panic attack."
Brogan-Higgins, of Wandsworth, lost false nails from her hand and was left with blood on her hands after the altercation.
She was convicted of assault by beating and assaulting a police constable in execution of his duty last month.
Earlier the judge said she took the time to review the CCTV footage and was "satisfied" Brogan-Higgins was acting aggressively and became enraged at being refused entry.
"There is no evidence to suggest that Ms Liutkute was pushing or shoving the defendant.
"I am persuaded that Ms Liutkute was attacked and I find the defendant was not remorseful in the slightest.
"I do not accept that the defendant was acting in self-defence - I am satisfied that the glass did strike Ms Liutkute and caused the injury prescribed."
(Image: PA)
Brogan-Higgins did not accept that she was intoxicated and described, on a scale of one to 10 that she was a "six or a seven drunk".
But the judge added that she was confident that Brogan-Higgins "continued to struggle" when she was lawfully arrested by PC Skelton.
Brogan-Higgins appeared in the dock at Westminster Magistrates' Court wearing a smart black skirt suit, grey roll-neck, black overcoat and a gold banded belt.
Judge Baines sentenced her to 20 weeks jail, concurrent on each count, but suspended the terms for a year.
Brogan-Higgins must pay £250 compensation to Ms Liutkute, £50 to PC Skelton and costs of £920.
She was also ordered to serve 100 hours unpaid work, a 15 day rehab activity requirement and banned from the Box Nightclub for six months.
The case comes just two months after another posh beauty was spared a custodial sentence by a judge who ruled she was "too clever for jail".
Lavinia Woodward - an Oxford medical student who hoped to become a surgeon - admitted stabbing her Tinder lover Thomas Fairclough but escaped with a suspended sentence.
It has emerged Woodward is now appealing her sentence.