AN INNOCENT woman has been left with a nasty scar on her forehead after she was attacked while enjoying a night out at the pub.

Lindsay Morgan was holding a glass flute in her hand when she unleashed an ‘out of character’ spell of violence on her victim in the Arden Inn in Accrington.

Burnley Crown Court heard how the woman has been left with a 7cm scar on her forehead following the incident, which saw Morgan punch her several times and pull her by the hair.

Clare Thomas, prosecuting, said the defendant and victim knew each other vaguely but didn’t have any real dealings with one another.

Talking about the night at the pub, Ms Thomas said: “CCTV footage shows the two of them talking and the defendant was seen drinking from a fluted glass, swaying and was drunk.

“They parted ways but then the defendant reapproached the victim while there was also a male there. At one point the defendant leant in and kissed the male and also the victim. 

“The male stood between them and then the Morgan grabbed the victim by the hair, pulling her downwards.

“She had a glass in her hand which struck the woman with not once put twice before dragging her along the floor and being aggressive to her.”

The court heard how Morgan, formerly of Water Street, Hapton, was dragged away while her victim was being given treatment by another patron – but the defendant soon made her way back over to them, biting the third woman as she tried to help.

The police were called and even after she had been arrested, handcuffed and escorted away, Morgan continued being aggressive towards people in the pub and the police.

Ms Thomas added: “One of the assaults on emergency worker was her kicking a PC to the shin and spitting on him three times.”

A victim impact statement was read to the court, which made reference to the fact that the assault had left the victim ‘teary’ and ‘unable to leave the house’ on some days.

The woman lost her job as a result of the attack, and has told officers she is scared to leave her home out of fear of bumping into the defendant.

Ms Thomas added: “She now works in a school as a teaching assistant and the children always ask about how she got the scar. She said it makes her feel self-conscious. One child called it a Harry Potter scar and that upset her.”

Defending her client, Anna Chestnutt said despite the trial, Morgan had been willing to accept fault and responsibility throughout proceedings.

She said: “She is utterly horrified to have caused this injury.

“She had post-natal depression following the birth of her second child and she hadn’t got to grips with that when the assault was committed. Further still she has deep-rooted childhood trauma which she had not dealt with when the offence was committed.

“She was on the waiting list for counselling and has found that since undertaking that course of treatment while on bail and that she has finally started to wade through that darkness. She is managing much better.”

Dealing with Morgan, Judge Andrew Jefferies QC said sentencing the 38-year-old ‘gave him no pleasure at all as a Judge’.

Judge Jefferies said: “You had a responsible and caring job and from everything that I saw about you at the trial, everything other than the commission of this offence leads me to believe that you have been and would have remained a valuable member of the community – of more than good character, positively commendable.

“In one 20 second period of momentary loss of control and anger, you punched your victim while holding a glass, causing a nasty scar to her forehead and then delivered further blows.”

Judge Jefferies added: “The other sad feature of this case is that you have two children who somebody is going to have to explain to at some point where mummy is.

“On the other side of the coin there is a wholly innocent woman.”

Morgan was jailed for three years after being found guilty of one count of wounding with intent. She had already admitted common assault and assault of an emergency worker.

A pub spokesman confirmed that incidents like this were 'very rare,' saying: "We never have trouble, usually everyone comes to watch the bands and has a great night."