A FEMALE security guard accused of biting off the tip of a woman's finger in a pizza shop fight has apologised for causing her injury.

Michala Dawn Rookes, 36, of Milton Street, Saltburn, east Cleveland, has denied causing grievous bodily harm to Louise Ann Evans, and also denies unlawful wounding.

She told a jury at Teesside Crown Court yesterday that she went to the pizza shop that night and was smoking a cigarette, allowed in the shop by owner Mohammed Pervez.

When she walked in, she said, she was insulted by Louise Evans' then boyfriend, and now husband, John Mowbray, because she was smoking while they ate.

The prosecution previously claimed ash was flicked into a pizza the couple were eating. Mrs Rookes admitted some may have gone into the food, but not deliberately.

She said she was attacked by Miss Evans and they pulled each other's hair. Mrs Rookes said she "must have been" responsible for the injury to Miss Evans' little finger - the bone was crushed due to being bitten - but she had not intended to cause her any injury and did not remember biting the finger.

She said: "I'm shocked and very sorry that I did cause that injury. I didn't mean to do it."

The case continues.