Mum-of-five is jailed for 'glassing' clubber

Pauline Harley had drunk eight pints before the argument which ended in hotel receptionist Sharon Pitman suffering cuts which needed 25 stitches.

Worcester Crown Court was told the disfigurement had caused Miss Pitman to be depressed and lose confidence in going out and meeting people.

Wounding

Harley, aged 36, of Wood Street, Kidderminster, admitted unlawful wounding at the Mirage club on December 21 last year.

Janet Pitt-Lewis, prosecuting, said the two women met amicably early in the evening but later on had an argument about a former boyfriend of Miss Pitman.

The row was fuelled by drink and ended with Harley thrusting the glass into Miss Pitman's face.

The glass shattered and caused a deep cut from an eyelid to below the nose. There were smaller cuts to an eyebrow.

Contact

Harley told police: "I put my hand up and she obviously made contact with it." She had a previous conviction for assault in 1983.

Judge Ian Morris said he was concerned that a mother-of-five on state benefit was at a nightclub when she should have been at home caring for her children.

But Alan Parker, defending, said she had been invited out by relatives and provision had been made for the care of the children, aged between 16 and two years.

It was just before Christmas and she had accepted hospitality.

Harley had been upset by gossip which had incorrectly linked her with Miss Pitman's former boyfriend. On the spur of the moment, she delivered a single blow and then collapsed with shock.

Mr Parker added: "It was a terrible, momentary aberration and she will have to live with the consequences for years."

Temper

Judge Morris said it was obvious that Harley had completely lost her temper.

Custody was inevitable for people who pushed glasses into other people's faces, he added.

Harley's children would suffer by the sentence but it was a matter she should have considered before becoming involved in violence.