A BENTHAM mum broke down in tears as a judge gave her a suspended prison sentence over a "glassing" incident which left her victim with scars and nerve damage.

Jessica Draper had intended to throw alcohol over Samantha Beresford's partner during an incident at the Black Bull pub in the Dales town last May, but Bradford Crown Court heard how the drunken 24-year-old ended up pushing the beer glass into her victim's face.

Miss Beresford had been trying to calm the situation and was about to leave with her partner Richard Murray when she was struck by the glass causing severe facial lacerations.

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Prosecutor John Bull said the complainant underwent treatment at the Royal Lancaster Infirmary for a cut to the left side of her top lip, a cut inside her upper lip and a cut to her bottom lip.

During the hearing Judge Jonathan Rose asked to look at the scarring left by the blow and Miss Beresford told him that she had suffered a loss of sensation in her upper lip as a result of nerve damage.

In her victim impact statement, she described having dreams about glasses coming towards her face.

Care assistant Draper, of Mill Gardens, Bentham, told police that the incident had been an accident, but she accepted causing the injuries and expressed remorse.

She said she had not intended to put the glass into Miss Beresford's face, but in August she pleaded guilty to a charge of unlawful wounding.

Barrister Christopher Evans, for Draper, said she had expressed genuine contrition for the offence and continued to bitterly regret the consequences for the complainant.

He said Draper had never been involved in any criminality before and the offence was entirely at odds with her work as a care assistant.

Judge Rose said he took the view that through too much strong drink Draper had got herself worked up and angry.

He stressed that Miss Beresford and her partner had done nothing wrong and Draper broke down in tears as the judge said her young son would be horrified, embarrassed and ashamed to see his mum in the dock.

Judge Rose said Miss Beresford had suffered dreadful injuries when Draper thrust the glass into her face.

Draper was sentenced to 14 months in prison for the wounding, but Judge Rose said the jail term could be suspended for two years.

The judge told her she would have to do 200 hours unpaid work and also pay Miss Beresford £750 compensation from her limited income.

Judge Rose said the compensation figure should be thousands of pounds but Draper would not be able to pay that off.

The defendant was, however, told she would have to pay a criminal courts charge of £900 and a victim surcharge.

"This is the price for your madness that evening...for your drunken madness," the judge told Draper.

"I do not expect to see you ever again but you must reflect on the terrible thing you did that night and ensure it is never ever repeated.