A YOUNG woman was blinded when her best friend stamped on her face while wearing "lethal" stilettos, a court was told yesterday (Thursday, July 31).

The heel of Melissa Causer's shoe penetrated Sophie Robinson's eyeball and caused "immediate and irreparable damage", a jury heard.

Miss Causer, 21, was said to have been "infuriated and violent" following an apparent row about a taxi fare as they returned from a night out.

Miss Robinson, 20, told Teesside Crown Court how she was pinned to the ground, repeatedly punched and stamped on three times.

She said the third blow from the heel of the silver shoes caused "excruciating pain" and then a burning sensation in her right eye.

Giving evidence from behind a screen, she said the pair had travelled from Darlington to Middlesbrough for a night out on January 10.

After a trouble-free evening, Miss Robinson went for a taxi but could not get her friend to join her, prosecutor Richard Bennett told the court.

Miss Robinson arrived at Miss Causer's home in Middleton-St-George ten minutes before her friend got there in another cab.

There was a discussion about money for the second taxi before Miss Causer is said to have knocked her friend to the ground and attacked her.

Under cross-examination by Annalise Haugstad, defending, Miss Robinson denied pulling her friend from her cab by the hair.

She also disputed that there was a scuffle and they were both hitting each other, and that Miss Causer had taken her shoes off in the car.

The defendant, of Browns Buildings, Middleton-St-George, denies causing grievous bodily harm with intent and grievous bodily harm.

Mr Bennett said: "The very last thing Sophie Robinson saw with both of her eyes was that Melissa stamped on her face.

"The first two blows avoided her eyes, but, unfortunately, the third blow with those stiletto heels went into her eyeball and split it.

"She had no idea at that stage how serious and catastrophic the injury was . . . the shoe heel penetrated the eyeball, causing immediate and irreparable damage.

"The heels of those shoes are a very lethal weapon if, indeed, they were used as a weapon.

"It is the prosecution's case that Melissa Causer intended to cause really serious bodily harm."

The trial continues.