A teenager who admitted assaulting another girl and causing her actual bodily harm has escaped jail.

Southend magistrates heard Kerry Fox, 19, of The Westerings, Hockley, pleaded guilty to punching Alexandra Stead on September 13 last year.

Norman Patterson, prosecuting, said: "There had been problems between the victim and a friend of the defendant's over a mutual boyfriend.

"This led to an argument in a nightclub and the victim was struck in the face by the defendant."

Miss Stead received a cut above her left eye, a black eye and a sore forehead.

Paul O'Docherty, mitigating, said Fox, who has no previous convictions, had been in the Southend nightclub with four friends. She admitted she should not have done it and wanted an apology put forward to the victim."

Fox was sentenced to a 100-hour community punishment order and orderd to pay £250 compensation.

Chairman of the bench Julia Tetley said a nightclub assault could result in prison but the offence was out of character and Fox had shown remorse.

Published Monday, April 28, 2003

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