A YOUNG mum who bit another woman during a drunken fight has dodged prison by the skin of her teeth.

Chelsea Luft was told by a judge that her having a three-year-old child meant he should not lock her up.

Luft was given a ten-month suspended jail sentence, and was ordered to do 120 hours of unpaid community work.

The 25-year-old wept and was said by her lawyer, Robert Mochrie, to be "terrified" at the thought of custody.

Mr Mochrie told Teesside Crown Court: "Clearly, this was distasteful behaviour and it is something she is thoroughly ashamed of.

"This dates back a year and a half, and since that time she has felt the emotional impact of these proceedings."

Prosecutor Paul Abrahams said a number of people were at a house in Maria Street, Middlesbrough, for an "after-hours meet-up" when trouble flared at 6am.

When the victim left to get a taxi, words were exchanged with Luft's brother, before she grabbed the woman by the hair, pulled her to the ground and punched her.

Sitting astride the victim, Luft continued to punch her face, bit her on the ear and twice on the cheek, and told her not to go the police.

In an impact statement, she told how people stared at her injuries, and added: "I cry every night thinking about what happened. I am depressed and scared to go out of the house."

Luft, of Macbean Street, Middlesbrough, admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm on June 10 last year.

Judge Stephen Ashurst told her: "The fact that during the last 19 months you have not offended, continued to care for your daughter and have found employment are factors I can take into consideration.

"This was a very ugly incident in which a lot of alcohol had been taken by people at that drinking session in the centre of Middlesbrough.

"You got involved in an unnecessary dispute, and it was quite a sustained assault. What made it worse is you used your teeth as a weapon.

"Very fortunately for her, and fortunately for you, the bite to the cheek did not break the skin, but you did cause an injury to her ear, and I am in no doubt she was in some discomfort, and she was upset by your behaviour.

"You know perfectly well that biting someone in the course of a fight is what some people might regard as completely over the top.

"Courts are encouraged to look at alternatives to immediate custody when the care of young children is involved.

"There have been a good deal of tears shed this morning at the prospect of going to prison. You are not out of the woods yet. If hanging this sentence over your head is something that's going to encourage you to behave in a more appropriate and civilised way, that's for everyone's benefit."