A SPURNED wife saw red and gave her husband a bloody nose when she spotted him with another woman in a busy supermarket.

Devastated Maureen Ann Pennington, 47, called her love rival a bitch and threatened to kill her before giving victim Timothy Pennington "a good slap," and slinging a tin of cat food at him, Burnley Magistrates heard.

It was the first time Pennington, who until weeks ago had believed she was happily married, had set eyes on her husband of 11 years since he "went out" at the beginning of January -- and never returned.

She had since learned he had set up home with one of her friends and had been upset and agitated to see the couple. Pennington was said by her solicitor to have been pushed by her husband so she struck a pallet of groceries and was not in the habit of "supermarket brawling."

Pennington, unemployed, of Napier Street, Nelson, admitted assault on February 1. She was given a 12 months conditional discharge, with £25 compensation and £55 costs.

Andy Robinson, prosecuting, said Mr Pennington was shopping with his new girlfriend when the defendant approached, lunged forward and hit him with a can of food. He tried to grab her, she fell over but then threw another tin as the couple tried to leave the store. Pennington caught up with her former partner and his girlfriend and said: "You're dead. I have sorted it out. I know where you live."

Mr Pennington, who claimed the defendant punched him in the face about five times, tried to protect his girlfriend. Pennington was eventually taken away by the store manager .

Dermot Woodhead, defending, said until the end of last year the Penningtons had been living together and were happy, or so Pennington thought.

At the end of last December they had had a large birthday party for the defendant and Mr Pennington had given his wife ring.

Mr Woodhead said at the beginning of January he went out and never returned.