An Exmouth single mother of three who struck a former school colleague in the face with a glass was told by a judge that she only avoided prison because the glassing; was not deliberate.

An Exmouth single mother of three who struck a former school colleague in the face with a glass was told by a judge that she only avoided prison because the 'glassing; was not deliberate.

At Exeter Crown Court, 27-year-old Gemma Young pleaded guilty to assaulting Kerry Gray, causing her actual bodily harm, and was given a 12-month community order, with 12 months supervision.

She was told by Judge Stephen Wildblood QC: "This was not a deliberate glassing and the glass left your hand by accident, as you went to pour the contents over your victim. If it had been deliberate, you would have gone inside."

Prosecutor Howard Philips said the two women, who had known each other since school, were in a public house in Exmouth and there came a stage where the defendant lost her cool because the other women allegedly called her a 'slag.'

An argument ensued between them and Young was standing in front of Ms Gray. She hit her with something hard that felt like a bottle and caused a cut on the end of her nose.

A barman who witnessed the incident, said it was a glass which bounced off the victim without breaking.

When Young was interviewed later she denied seeing any injury to the victim.

Mitigating Terry Holder said Young had gone to throw the contents of the glass over the victim and, unfortunately, the glass came out of her hand and caused minor, non permanent injuries.

Young, who lives near the seafront in Exmouth, admitted the offence which happened in the Famous Old Barrel, in April this year.