A young mother has been sentenced for assaulting another woman in a nightclub.

Amy Dean, 20, of Land Close, Clacton, punched the victim in the face, leaving her with a black eye.

She was thrown out of Rumours nightclub in Clacton on June 28, by doormen after the attack, Colchester magistrates heard yesterday

Both women were on the dancefloor when the aggrieved threw a drink over Dean, Colchester Court heard.

The woman is now having a relationship with Dean's former partner, who is the father of Dean's young child.

The 20-year-old reacted by throwing a punch, hitting her victim in the face and also leaving her with a grazed back as clubbers looked on.

Dean admitted the charge of common assault at a previous hearing.

David Davies, in mitigation, said she was heavily provoked through a history of confrontation.

"Miss Dean has been subjected to abuse from this other young woman and she reacted to this.

"She realises she went too far and lost her self-control."

She was sorry for her actions, Mr Davies added.

Magistrates ordered Dean to serve 12 months on a probation course, complete 40 hours of community service and pay £55 in costs and a further £100 in compensation to the victim of her assault.

Published Thursday November 14, 2002

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