A GIRL told a court yesterday that she got into a punch-up over a T-shirt.

Teesside Crown Court heard that Simone Gibson, 25, was wearing only her underwear and a black T-shirt in the street at 3am after a night out with a friend.

She was approached by Mark Smorthwaite, 32, who asked her about the slogan on the shirt, which said "Nobody knows I'm a lesbian".

A row broke out about whether she was a lesbian and Ms Gibson said that Mr Smorthwaite kicked her in the face.

Ms Gibson said that she had been larking about with her gay friend, Stephen Holmes, 24, who was dressed only in his underpants, when they spoke to Smorthwaite.

During the row, Ms Gibson told the court she had fallen to her knees and asked Mr Smorthwaite not to start a fight but he then kicked her.

The police arrived at the scene, in Borough Road, Middlesbrough, Teesside, and arrested Mr Smorthwaite.

Police dog handler PC Andrew Lawton said: "I saw the woman kneeling down on the pavement and the man kicked her in the face. I have no doubts about what I saw."

He rejected a suggestion by Peter Sabiston, defending, that his client had slapped Ms Gibson, who was treated in hospital for a cut to her left cheek and a chipped front tooth.

Mr Smorthwaite told police that he could not remember the incident because he was very drunk but he claimed he must have been provoked, said Sam Andrews, prosecuting.

Mr Smorthwaite of Rossett Walk, Park End, Middlesbrough, pleads not guilty to causing actual bodily harm on December 6.

The case continues.