MUM Tara Illingworth slashed a man's face with a broken bottle just weeks after attacking a 17-year-old girl at a Banbury nightclub.

Daniel Patterson needed 17 stiches to his cheek after the attack by Illingworth, 21, of Woodfield, Banbury. The teenage girl suffered cuts and bruising to her head and neck.

Yesterday Illingworth was sent to prison for 27 months by Oxford Crown Court after she admitted causing unlawful wounding and actual bodily harm.

Gerard Quirke, prosecuting, told the court Illingworth's first offence took place in the Hobson's Choice nightclub in Butchers Row on November 7 last year.

Michelle Temple, 17, was in the club when Illingworth, who had been drinking and smoking cannabis, attacked her.

Mr Quirke told the court: "There is a long-term dispute between them.

"Miss Temple walked past her in a way she interpreted as a snub, having her nose in the air." Witnesses reported seeing Illingworth using a beer glass in the assault but this was not proved and Illingworth said she could not remember.

Weeks later, Mr Patterson was playing pool in the Old Auctioneer pub in Banbury when he bumped into a man. The two scuffled but the fight broke up. The court heard that Mr Patterson later noticed Illingworth talking to the man. She suddenly rushed at Mr Patterson with a beer bottle, smashed it, and thrust it into his face.

She ran out of the pub but was arrested by police the next morning. When interviewed, she said Mr Patterson had run to attack her and she used the bottle in self-defence.

The court heard Illingworth, who was born in Ireland, had her baby when she was just 15 years old. She turned to drink to escape the pressures in her life.

Judge Anthony King sentenced her to 12 months in prison for the actual bodily harm and 15 months for unlawful wounding, to run consecutively.

He told her: "You will have to learn that acts you commit have consequences for the persons who you injured unlawfully, consequences for those you have love for and whom you should be caring for, and consequences for you."

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