AN innocent young mum had her teeth smashed when she was attacked by a brick-wielding woman in a Nelson street.

Burnley Crown Court heard how Lisa McNamara was walking along Bracewell Street with her three-year-old daughter when Ann Riding came out of a house, started shouting and hit her with the brick.

A friend of Riding's had taken the sobbing girl around the corner before the defendant grabbed Miss McNamara and punched her in the face. The victim also suffered bust lips and bruises and one tooth was broken off.

Riding has been warned she could be facing jail for the unprovoked beating in May.

The defendant, of Bracewell Street, denied assault causing actual bodily harm but was found guilty by a jury. Judge Peter Openshaw, QC, remanded Riding on bail until December 17.

Zoe Nield, prosecuting, told the court Miss McNamara heard a window being opened, glanced towards it and heard a voice saying: "What are you looking at?"

The victim was surprised and before she could set off again, Riding came out of a house, started shouting at the victim and accused her of always giving her dirty looks before the attack.

Miss Nield said during the attack Riding hit Miss McNamara with a brick in the right side of her face.

Miss McNamara went straight to the police station and then to hospital.

Two days later Miss McNamara went to see her dentist. Three teeth were mobile and one was broken at the root and had to be removed.

The prosecutor said Riding was arrested 11 days later and interviewed. She claimed she and Miss McNamara had argued and that the victim had pushed her. The defendant alleged they had stumbled down a banking together, they had been pulling each other's hair and she had hit Miss McNamara.

Riding claimed Miss McNamara had hit a wall when slipping down the embankment. She denied hitting her with a brick, said she had hit her once with her hand and denied causing the victim any injuries.

But Miss Nield continued: "This wasn't self defence. This is a case where Ann Riding was the instigator of violence. She left the house angered by Lisa McNamara looking in the window and left with one intention - to assault her."