A WOMAN who used the stiletto heel of her shoe to attack another woman in a night club row over a man has been jailed for three and a half years.

Bradford Crown Court heard that Shannon Carter, 21, repeatedly hit Amelia Gledhill with the stiletto, causing injuries above her right eye which needed stitching.

Prosecutor Jon Gregg told the court yesterday there was an earlier confrontation in a city centre bar due to the mistaken belief Carter had slept with the former boyfriend of the complainant.

He said Miss Gledhill and a female friend later saw Carter in the NV night club. Carter went into the toilets and attacked Miss Gledhill with the stiletto. Miss Gledhill received a number of injuries, but the main one was to her face above her right eyebrow. She also suffered a puncture wound to her arm.

The court heard the victim had the wound stitched at hospital and needed to go back to Bradford Royal infirmary on a number of occasions for further treatment.

She had been bruised and disfigured, left with a permanent scar, and the vision in her right eye had been blurred without glasses. She had not been able to take her driving test, had time off work, and was concerned about going out and asked her boyfriend to accompany her.

Carter, of Lister Avenue, East Bowling, Bradford, pleaded guilty to wounding with intent.

In mitigation, her solicitor advocate, Simon Hustler, said Carter had nursed her grandmother, and looked after her grandfather and was a carer for her mother.

It was an isolated incident, she had committed no further offences and there was evidence of a mental disorder.

Judge David Hatton QC told Carter she had attacked the complainant with the heel of her shoe, causing her permanent scarring and other psychological consequences.

The judge said: "This is a tragic case, revealing the frequent danger and consequence of excessive drinking - tragic, not least because I am satisfied that it was out of character."

But he added that it was a serious offence which needed to be marked with imprisonment.

Judge Hatton said: "I judge your risk of reoffending not to be high. I take account of the fact that any sentence of imprisonment will be in itself a considerable punishment."

He said he had read two moving letters on her behalf from members of her family.

He added: "I derive no pleasure whatever from imposing a sentence of imprisonment on a young woman in your position but I would be failing in my public duty if I did not do so."

After the case, Detective Constable Glen Doran, of Bradford District CID, said: "This was a particularly nasty and unprovoked assault which left the victim with permanent injuries.

"Such incidents will not be tolerated in Bradford District, and I hope the sentence handed down today will serve as a warning to others."