A WOMAN bit her victim’s face when a fight erupted in a pizza takeaway restaurant.
Lucy Clements, of Ceres Crescent, Epsom, left another woman needing ten stitches after attacking her in Romeo’s Pizza in Southampton, a court heard.
Southampton Crown Court heard how the wound became infected following the violent assault in Bedford Place.
Prosecution barrister, Roderick Blain, read out extracts from a victim personal statement which said how the woman had been left feeling very down and suffering from anxiety.
She said how the attack had impacted her student work and degree, and how she was conscious of photos due to scarring she had sustained.
Furthermore, she had suffered nightmares due to the experience Appearing before Southampton Crown Court, Clements, 27, stood to be sentenced for GBH and theft.
A jury found her guilty of both offences following an earlier trial at the same court.
At sentencing, Judge Nicholas Rowland told how the fight was sparked when Clements stole a new iPhone from her victim.
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He said: “You had been out drinking. You were tipsy as you described it and for some reason, you decided to steal a new iPhone in that pizza takeaway.”
Judge Rowland accepted that Clements had also been injured, however, added: “According to an independent witness you got hold of her, pulled her towards you and bit her causing that injury about her eye.”
He told the court how she has no previous convictions and multiple references had described a “different side” to her.
Defending, Vanessa Mistry, said that her client was still coming to terms with what happened and had attended counselling.
She mentioned that she was supported by her friends and family in court and that the incident which happened on April 13, 2019, was completely out of character.
She added: “Miss Clements is not someone who will be before the courts again.”
And stressed that any custodial sentence would have “a detrimental effect on her future”.
Clements was jailed for a total of three years.
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