A mother who hit a school staff member in the face with a pint glass has received a suspended prison sentence.

Sarah Marie O’Brien, 43, sent a Facebook message about the victim, saying she was going to “smash her face in”, said Rob Galley, prosecuting.

She believed the staff member had told a child at the school that she was taking drugs.

When the two confronted each other through a garden gate at an evening barbecue, O'Brien threw the contents of her glass at the staff member, then threw the glass, which wounded the victim in several places including near one eye.

Her solicitor advocate Julian Tanikal said she had never been convicted of taking drugs and was anti-drugs. She was also concerned the comment could have led to social services and others being involved in her family.

Recorder Richard Wright QC told her: “In the face of what most people would consider minor provocation, you got drunk, lost your temper and resorted to throwing a weapon into the air with no regard of how serious consequences of that were.”

O’Brien, of Kingsland Terrace, off Leeman Road, York, pleaded guilty to wounding and was given a 12-month prison sentence suspended for 12 months on condition she does 100 hours’ unpaid work and 20 days’ rehabilitative activities. She must also pay £1,300 compensation to the victim.

Mr Galley said O’Brien was at the barbecue on July 22 when the staff member arrived at the garden gate. Despite a warning from the owner of the garden not to attack her, she assaulted the victim with the glass and was then ejected from the garden.

O’Brien had previous convictions for minor violence and public order but none for several years. She cried with relief as the judge suspended the prison sentence at York Crown Court.

York Press:

In a probation report, the court heard she has a drink problem and binge drinks. Mr Tanikal said her offending was drink related and she was very remorseful for her actions.

She had had a successful job with Railtrack, but lost it when domestic abuse at home drove her to drink too much. In 2007, she became a mother and was determined to set a good example for the child.

As she was a single mother, her child would suffer if she was jailed.

The glass had been thrown over the gate and not directly at the victim.