A DRUNK woman broke her partner's finger and punched her in the face several times during a brutal attack witnessed by children.

Gemma Payne admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm when she appeared at Worcester Magistrates Court yesterday. The 25-year-old of Britannia Road, Worcester, barged her way into the woman's home before attacking her during the ugly incident between June 27 and June 28 last year. She was later to tell police she had no recollection of carrying out the attack because she was so drunk.

Mark Hambling, prosecuting, said Payne and the woman had been in a relationship since November 2019 but lived at different addresses. Payne had contacted the complainant asking to come around to her home and she refused, believing Payne was drunk. At around 10.45pm Payne arrived at her home, shouting and knocking on the door when two children were in bed at the address.

"She opens the front door and Miss Payne pushes her way in and refuses to leave at that point" said Mr Hambling.

The argument continued for 20 minutes with both children woken up by the commotion. After they were retuned to bed Payne carried on slamming doors.

Mr Hambling said: "During that argument she will say that Miss Payne punched her and made her feel nauseous on more than one occasion."

The victim described the entire incident as lasting three hours. "She is punched on a number of occasions" said Mr Hambling. Payne was also described as throwing shoes and shots of alcohol at the victim.

During the attack the victim also suffered a 'very slight fracture of to her hand' - the bone leading to her little finger (the metacarpal). Payne was interviewed by police. "She says she doesn't remember anything because she was drunk" said Mr Hambling.

The defendant has a series of previous convictions for violence including an assault on an emergency worker. Aggravating features identified by the Crown included Payne's consumption of alcohol and the presence of children.

Barry Newton, defending, asked for a full pre-sentence report to be prepared before his client was sentenced. "My client has had a long-standing problem with alcohol misuse" said Mr Newton. He told magistrates she had 'very little recollection of events'. The city solicitor provided more details of the injuries - reddening and soreness to the cheek and eye and the broken bone in her finger which he said was treated by way of a splint applied at hospital. Mr Newton said this injury was inflicted when Payne twisted the victim's hand.

However, he said the injury did not require surgery and that the victim had made a retraction statement. "She has pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity" said Mr Newton. Payne had 'remained abstinent' since the attack - over five months. Mr Newtown, who stressed that he was 'paraphrasing' the words of the victim, said: "Drink is the demon. She doesn't want Miss Payne to go to prison."

The sentence was adjourned for a further hearing on February 25 at 2pm at Worcester Magistrates Court. Payne was bailed on condition she co-operates with the probation service in the preparation of the report and has no contact with the complainant in the meantime.