A PARTIALLY sighted woman has been scarred for life after being attacked by a neighbour, Cardiff Crown Court has heard.

Joanne Francis, 22, came to blows with 42 year old Jacqueline Nangle after an argument about a barking dog, the Court was told.

Francis, of Buchanan Close, Monmouth, was jailed for one year eight months after pleading guilty to a charge of wounding.

Judge Nicholas Cooke said Miss Nangle suffered a "particularly grave injury" and had a lifelong scar on her face.

Said the Judge: "It does not give me any pleasure to send you to prison but if you inflict an injury of this kind on a fellow human being there is no alternative."

It was, he said an "horrific injury."

Prosecutor Nicholas Powell said that at the time of the attack Francis was living in Abergavenny. She and Mrs Nangle had a dispute about a dog barking and Mrs Nangle called her "a stupid cow."

Seconds later Francis hit her with a milk bottle.

The injury was four inches long. In a Victim Impact Statement, Nangle said the bottle narrowly missed the eye out of which she had good sight. She said she now lacks confidence and believes everyone is looking at her.

Francis told the police she struck out because she thought she was going to be hit. She was said to have convictions for public order offences, assaulting the police, criminal damage and shop lifting.

Sarah Waters said the victim had got angry with Francis. True, Francis could have walked away but she was invited to fight.

"Nangle is a much bigger lady than the defendant who grabbed the bottle because she thought she would not get the better of the two."

What happened was reprehensible. It was one blow, which lasted seconds. She has had a problem with drugs and could be a confused individual."

Said the Judge: "Violence of this kind has to be stamped upon."