A ROW between neighbours in Abergavenny culminated in one of them receiving a face injury which has caused her to be scarred for life, Cardiff Crown Court heard.
Joanne Francis, 22, armed herself with a milk bottle and struck 42-year-old Jacqueline Nangle.
Francis, who then lived in Clos Durand, Abergavenny and who now lives in Monmouth, pleaded guilty to a charge of wounding and was sentenced to one year and eight months imprisonment.
Judge Nicholas Cooke told her that Mrs Nagle suffered a grave injury which left a life time scar. He said, "Violence of this kind has to be stamped upon."
He also told Francis, "It does not give me any pleasure to send you to prison, but if you inflict injury of this kind on a fellow human being there is no alternative."
The court heard that Mrs Nangle is partially sighted and the bottle missed her good eye by only inches.
Prosecutor Nicola Powell said that on July 12 the two women had a dispute in Clos Durand about barking dogs. Mrs Nangle called Francis a "stupid cow."
Seconds later Francis struck her with the milk bottle, causing a four inch long cut to her right cheek. She later told police she struck out because she thought she was going to be attacked.
Sarah Waters, defending, said Mrs Nangle had gone out specifically to look for the defendant and invited her to fight. "Admittedly," she said, "Francis could have walked away."
"Mrs Nangle," she continued "Was a bigger woman than the defendant who grabbed the bottle to defend herself.
"What happened was reprehensible. It was a one blow incident which lasted seconds. Francis had had problems with drugs and can be a confused individual."
The court heard that Francis had previous convictions for offences of public disorder, assaulting the police, criminal damage and shop lifting.
"This was a horrific injury," the judge added.