A MOTHER-of-two who thrust a broken bottle into a love rival's face, severing an artery was today starting a three year jail term.

Burnley Crown Court heard how Joanna Baines' victim had to have 100 stitches, surgery, and was now on sleeping tablets and anti depressants, after the attack left her permanently scarred and ruined her life.

Baines, 24, of Basil Street, Colne, who claims she cannot remember the assault in the town's Tower Bar, admitted wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm.

Jailing her, Judge Raymond Bennett said there were too many offences fuelled by drink and the victim, Joanne Hall, had been left disfigured.

Roger Brown, prosecuting, said last November Miss Hall, who Baines believed was going out with her boyfriend, was in the bar. The defendant hit Miss Hall on the head with a bottle.

The victim collapsed and the defendant stood over her and hit her again with the broken bottle on the right cheek. Miss Hall was seriously injured and had to have an operation on the "hole" in her right cheek. People in the club tried to give her first aid to stop the blood but were unsuccessful and one witness described Miss Hall's cheek as being "a terrible sight."

The victim was taken to Burnley General Hospital and then Blackburn Royal Infirmary before going on to Preston for an operation to sew up her wound.

She passed out several times, had more than 100 stitches and was released three days later.

Mr Brown said Miss Hall was not able to eat any solid foods, could drink only from a straw and had no feeling in the right side of her face.

A consultant plastic surgeon referred her for advice on cosmetic surgery and said Miss Hall would have a permanent, lasting scar.

Miss Hall had now left Colne to try and rebuild her shattered confidence, faced further plastic surgery and felt her life had been destroyed.

Martin Hackett, defending, said it was to Baines' credit she had pleaded guilty and saved Miss Hall from having to give evidence. Baines had been drinking and accepted she behaved in a thoroughly disgraceful way.

The assault happened in a moment of madness or viciousness.