A WOMAN who may have have used a knuckleduster in a pre-arranged fight in which she bit her victim three times received a suspended jail sentence.

Terri Proudfoot, 26, of Dalton Crescent, in Shildon, County Durham, fell out with another woman in early 2013.

The pair traded insults on Facebook for a while before they agreed to meet on May 19 of that year, where they would have a fight in order to settle the argument.

Following the fight, Proudfoot was arrested and pleaded guilty to a charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

She appeared at Newcastle Crown Court today (Friday, May 15) for sentencing.

Judge Robert Adams told the court that Proudfoot, who survives on benefits, has three children, the youngest of which is just a month old.

He said: “The two of you appear to have met expecting there to be a fight that day. You were both supported by others who did not get involved.

“This was a pre-planned confrontation if not a pre-planned fight.

“A knuckleduster was found nearby but there is some dispute as to who brought it to the fight.

“You seem to have bitten the victim three times during the fight – twice on the body and once on the chin.

“You caused marks and abrasions to the other person during this incident.

“There seems to have been some degree of provocation and this seems to have been an assault including the use of teeth and the probable use of a weapon.”

Judge Adams said the only reason Proudfoot was not facing a more serious charge of wounding was because she had not broken her victim’s skin during the fight.

He added: “I’m sure that you acknowledge that you acted disgustingly and that you accept that what you did was wrong.

“I expect you have remorse of what took place that day and that you accept that your actions were disgraceful.”

He sentenced Proudfoot, who appeared in the dock, to a ten-month jail term which he suspended for 18-months.

Judge Adams also imposed a £100 victim surcharge on Proudfoot for her part in the fight. He did not impose prosecution costs.