A mother has been jailed after clubbing her neighbour with a rolling pin while allowing her dog to attack her.

Michelle Stonehouse, 26, had been involved in a long-running dispute with her upstairs neighbours before the feud erupted in violence in the early hours of June 10.

Newcastle Crown Court heard how Sarah Rarrity had gone to Stonehouse's flat in Dean Road, South Shields, to once again complain about noise levels and disruption caused by her dog.

Prosecutor Julie Clemitson had told the court; "Mrs Rarrity knocked on the door and a heated discussion followed.

"The dog ran up to her and whilst the dog was attacking Mrs Rarrity this defendant also attacked her with a rolling pin, hitting her once and attempting to hit her a second time over the head."

The court heard that Mrs Rarrity, who lived upstairs to Stonehouse with her husband, suffered a gash to her head, bruising and a black eye in the attack.

Stonehouse, who has no previous convictions for violence, pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm during an earlier hearing.

Defence barrister Ailsa McDonald told the court yesterday: "This was an isolated incident, a spur of the moment attack,"

Miss McDonald urged Judge Richard Lowden to pass a non-custodial sentence due to Stonehouse's young daughter's health problems.

But Judge Lowden jailed her for nine months.

The court heard how since the attack Mrs Rarrity no longer wishes to stay in the flat and said her life has been changed for the worst by what happened.

She said her family have been affected by what happened and her son now suffers nightmares.

Stonehouse wept as she was led away to start her sentence.