A DRUNKEN yob who could have blinded a grandmother with her stiletto shoe heel during an attack walked free from court yesterday.

Amy Beaumont was given a suspended prison sentence after a judge heard that she has a twoyear- old son to care for.

Last night, Beaumont’s victim told how the sickening assault in a Darlington pub on New Year’s Eve has shattered her life.

And she wept when given news of the sentence, saying: “I can’t believe it. She’s got off with what she’s done to me.”

Alison Kachel says she is living a life sentence in her home and has been afraid to go out alone because she now suffers from panic attacks.

Mrs Kachel, 44, needs plastic surgery to mask permanent scarring and it is thought she is suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.

Teesside Crown Court heard how she was knocked to the ground and repeatedly stamped on after a row with Beaumont.

On her way to hospital from Harvey’s bar, in Darlington, Mrs Kachel, an entertainments supervisor, lost consciousness.

Wounds to her scalp and temple were glued and stitched, but she returned to hospital the next day with severe headaches.

Doctors also carried out a CT scan of her brain after grandmother- of-three Mrs Kachel complained of blurred vision.

She says she was told by doctors that the vicious blow to her temple came perilously close to blinding or killing her.

Beaumont claimed the trouble started when Mrs Kachel danced provocatively on a table in front of her boyfriend.

The account was rejected by the Crown Prosecution Service, and the traumatised victim last night dismissed it as absolute rubbish.

She said she got onto the table to avoid the crush in the packed pub as the bells sounded to usher in the New Year.

The court heard that Beaumont admitted kicking Mrs Kachel when she was on the floor, and said she was ashamed.

Her barrister, Christopher Baker, said the unemployed mother-of-one wanted to apologise for her behaviour.

He said she had made plans for the care of her two-year-old son in the event of her being locked up.

“Sending her straight to prison today would have a significant effect on somebody who is an entirely innocent victim. The removal of the child from his mother will not just have short-term effects, but long-term effects,” Mr Baker said.

Beaumont, of Bloomfield Road, Darlington, admitted unlawful wounding, and was given a 12- month suspended sentence.

She was also ordered to undergo supervision for 18 months and observe an 8pm to 7am curfew for the next 16 weeks.

Judge Rachel Hudson told her yesterday: “It is a serious assault that has clearly had ongoing effects on the victim.

“You have a young child you clearly care for well and it is right that you have the opportunity to continue to care for him.

“If you don’t take the opportunity I have provided, you face custody.

I hope this will be your first and last appearance.”