A WOMAN who carried out a bottle attack at a family fun day narrowly escaped an immediate prison sentence.

Chernade Thompson-Kennedy became involved in a row with another woman which initially began in the toilet area at the event at North Bitchburn Cricket Club, County Durham, on September 24, last year.

But, Durham Crown Court heard it reached the staged where there was a confrontation in which there was a joint grabbing of hair.

Other event-goers stepped in to separate the women and Thompson-Kennedy briefly disappeared from the scene.

But, Rupert Doswell, prosecuting, said she returned carrying a bottle, and although two or three men tried to intervene, she began to swing out with it in the direction of the other woman.

One blow landed on the left temple and the victim immediately felt blood pouring down her face, to the extent she thought it was raining.

A doctor’s statement described the injury as a v-shaped 3cm laceration to the left side of the forehead, consistent with being hit with a bottle, as alleged.

Mr Doswell said the victim described suffering a “huge amount of pain” and now faces suffering permanent scarring.

The 26-year-old defendant, of Lambton Avenue, Consett, who the court heard has no previous convictions, admitted a charge of assault causing actual bodily harm.

Joe Hedworth, mitigating, said for the mother of two young children it was a rare night out for the defendant.

Mr Hedworth said the victim seemed to take exception over comments she made to her son.

“There was a dispute between them and she completely over-reacted.

“She struck her over the head and accepts she behaved very badly, indeed, for which she is genuinely remorseful.

“She wants to offer her most sincere apologies for her actions.

“She made full admissions during the course of her interview when police went to her home.”

Mr Hedworth said apart from her two children, the defendant also acts as a carer for her own mother.

Judge Simon Hickey said such an offence “strays into the custody territory”.

But, given her previous good record and domestic responsibilities, he was just able to step back from an immediate sentence.

He imposed an 12-month prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, and ordered her to pay the victim £500 compensation, perform 80 hours’ unpaid work and complete 15 probation rehabilitation days.