AN `exchange of looks' between women in a City wine bar led to one hitting the other in the face with a glass, a court heard. Sarah Small, 30, a personal assistant at an accounting firm, risked scarring her victim, publisher Claire Hawkins, 21, from Blackheath. The immaculately dressed Small was ordered to serve a 100-hour community service order and to pay £500 to her victim, by Judge Giles Forrester at the Old Bailey on Friday, May 1.

Judge Forrester said it was clear, and was accepted by the prosecution, that Small had meant only to throw the contents of her pint glass over the publisher. Earlier this year she admitted assaulting Miss Hawkins and causing actual bodily harm on January 16, 1998 at Ryans Bar in Carter Lane in the City.

On the night, tempers were frayed after a stressful week and all concerned had had a "considerable amount to drink", said prosecutor Mr Bernard Phelvin. "They exchanged looks and someone was pushed while getting to the bar. At any event both ladies became very aggressive.There was a shouting match going on in the course of which the defendant, who had a pint glass in her hand, to put it neutrally, moved it towards the face of Miss Hawkins and struck her and it broke."

Small, of Queens Road, Buckhurst Hill, Essex, immediately rushed out of the bar, plainly in distress, after the assault was seen by members of staff. Miss Hawkins was left with cuts above her left eye and bruising to her forehead.

At hospital she had glass fragments removed from her wounds and dressings applied - she did not need stitches.

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