A DIVORCEE who confronted the woman she believed was her love rival with a baseball bat demanded to know if she had had sex with her partner.

Burnley Crown Court heard that Yvonne Boulton, 43, who had been seeking Katrina McGough out, struck her baby's pushchair with the weapon. The defendant believed the victim had been seeing her boyfriend, Patrick Healey. She felt Miss McGough should be taught a lesson after the young mum was said to have told her she had been sleeping with Mr Healey for weeks.

Boulton, of Lyndhurst Road, Burnley, admitted possessing an offensive weapon and was given a two-year conditional discharge with £150 costs. Sentencing, Judge Christopher Cornwall said when a weapon was taken out, there was a risk it could be used. He added the defendant's behaviour had been unattractive but he accepted she had made a serious error of judgement in emotional circumstances.

Roger Green, prosecuting, said Boulton had been to Miss McGough's mother's home and to Mr Healey's house looking for her.

She found Miss McGough on Albert Street, Burnley, and demanded to know if she had been having sex with Mr Healey.

The victim said she had not. Boulton swung the bat at her, making slight contact, and a crowd gathered.

Mr Healey arrived and shouted at the defendant in an effort to restrain her. Boulton got back into the car which had brought her and drove off.

Mr Green said Miss McGough contacted police. She had suffered a slight bump on her head but did not need medical attention.

The defendant was arrested, made no reply and was taken to Burnley police station. She was interviewed and denied any assault or any form of contact with the baseball bat.

The prosecutor said Boulton told police she had armed herself with the bat because Mr Healey had been violent to her in the past. She claimed she hit the top of the pram to get Miss McGough's attention as she wasn't listening to her.

Duncan Nightingale, defending, said Miss McGough had told Boulton over the phone she was having sex with "her fella," for weeks.

Boulton, who had no previous convictions, had wanted to talk to Mr Healey. A friend, who had been playing rounders with her children, had given her a lift and the bat was in the car. The blow was not near the child.