TWO sisters who left a woman covered in blood after an attack in the toilets of a popular Colchester night spot have been spared prison.

Jade and Toni Lewis assaulted two victims, one in the street in Colchester town centre and another in the toilets of Hudson bar in Head Street.

The sisters denied two charges of assault occasioning actually bodily harm, but were convicted on both counts by a jury following a trial at Ipswich Crown Court.

The court heard at the time of the attack, Jade Lewis, 26, of Clarendon Way, Colchester, was in a relationship with the former partner of one of the victims.

One victim was left “covered in blood”, while the second was left with an “egg-sized lump” on her forehead.

Emma Nash, mitigating for Toni Lewis, 22, of Greenstead, Colchester, described the pair’s “difficult upbringing”, saying both sisters had witnessed domestic abuse.

She said: “Her mother was subject to a lot of domestic violence and abuse from her father.

“She is a hard-working young lady, with a long employment history.

“In her case she was very much providing mediation rather than aggression.

“This is a case with a greater than normal degree of provocation.”

Liam Edwards, mitigating for Jade Lewis, said: “The family background was difficult, with periods of time spent in care.

“Despite this early life trauma she got to the age of 26 without anything remarkable happening leading her into the criminal justice system.

“She wants to move forward and put these events behind her.

“The probation services assessed her as having a low risk of reoffending.

“I concede to you straight away that his matter crosses the custody threshold.

“The main mitigation in this case is the fact she is the primary carer of her eight year old child.”

Judge John Devaux handed each sister a 12 month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months.

He said the attacks were made more serious by several aggravating factors.

“You were both convicted, quite quickly, by a jury,” he said.

“It is a case of greater harm, with a repeated assault and higher culpability, with kicking.

"Secondly, it was two on one.

“Thirdly, the location being a public place - and as a result the presence of others in the vicinity when the attacks occurred either outside, or in the loo of the night club.

“It is not clearly made out you were much worse for drink, although it is likely drink played a part.

“On count two there is a significant degree of pre-meditation, evidenced by messages saying ‘see you soon’.”

He added: “Neither of you had an easy start in life, that I accept.

"There is some provocation to be found in a prior exchange of messages.”

Both sisters must pay £1,000 in compensation to the victims.