A WOMAN who inflicted serious facial injuries on a young mother with a platform shoe was jailed for 30 months yesterday.

Karen Bilton, 27, hung her head as a judge told her he had no choice but to jail her since she had committed the same crime before.

Newcastle Crown Court heard how Melanie Archbold set off for a night out to celebrate her 21st birthday - a few hours later she was battered by Bilton waving a platform shoe like a lethal weapon.

Miss Archbold suffered a split forehead, eye and lip after she was repeatedly smashed in the face by Bilton.

Bilton even waved huge clumps of her hair around like a "trophy" during the attack on August 19 last year.

The court heard that the mother-of-two already had two convictions for assault. During the second assault, in l989, she attacked her victim in a pub with a stiletto-heeled shoe.

Bilton claimed she could not remember carrying out the attack on Miss Archbold, but a jury found her guilty of causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

The court heard that Miss Archbold was in a bar near her home, in Hetton-le-Hole, Wearside, when a row erupted, sparked by Bilton's husband, Gary, who noticed that one of Miss Archbold's friends was wearing a Newcastle United badge.

Jane Waugh, prosecuting, said that Bilton later attacked Miss Archbold without warning and for no apparent reason.

Bilton, of Newbottle, Wearside, admitted causing the injuries during her trial and pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm, but the Crown Prosecution Service refused to accept the plea.