TWO young children were struck by glass as a drunk woman with a knife was barricaded out of the living room when an argument got out of control.

A sheriff said the incident must have been “terrifying” for all those present at a family gathering.

The disturbance was caused by Debbie Harper, 35, of Mackie Place, Dunfermline.

She appeared from custody at Dunfermline Sheriff Court and admitted that on June 8, at her home, she repeatedly shouted, swore, made threats of violence, brandished a knife, struck a glass panel, causing it to break and the glass to fall on two children.

She also admitted that she assaulted her partner, by punching and scratching him on the head to his injury.

Depute fiscal Azrah Yousaf said Harper and her partner had been in a “volatile” relationship for two years.

There had a been a family get-together in Harper’s house on that day with six children there as well as the adults.

All of the adults, apart from one who was looking after the kids, had been consuming alcohol and at around 11pm, Harper began arguing with her sister, Ms Yousaf told the court.

“She started shouting louder and was asked to leave the living room as she was upsetting the children," she told the court.

“The accused became more aggressive saying: ‘I’ll stab you, you b******’."

There was a struggle between Harper and her partner who was holding her on the floor when she punched him.

Harper took hold of a knife and others barricaded her out of the living room.

“She began to strike the glass panels on the door and shattered the glass,” added the depute.

Two children, aged two and eight, were covered by the flying glass but were not injured.

“The children were distressed but the accused continued trying to get in,” added the depute.

After being arrested, Harper said: “It was self-defence but I remembered the last time I stabbed someone and I got the jail so I put it back.”

Defence solicitor Elaine Buist said: “She becomes frustrated quite easily and doesn’t listen to what is being said.”

Harper had claimed it was a potato peeler used in the incident but later accepted it was a knife which she used for peeling potatoes.

Sheriff Allison McKay said: “This incident must have been terrifying for everyone concerned and especially when there were young children in the house. Your partner was trying to stop you doing something foolish and was injured.”

She jailed Harper for six months, backdated to June 11, when she taken into custody.