A 29-year-old woman downed 10 pints of beer left a mother with terrible facial injuries during a "moment of utter madness".
Thea Haywood watched her boyfriend headbutt another man during a violent encounter at 2am. She proceeded to get involved in the conflict out of "misguided loyalty" for him.
During the incident, Haywood threw a bottle of beer towards another man. However, it missed him and instead hit the innocent mother who was trying to act as a peacemaker, Hull Live reports.
Haywood, of Woldcarr Road, Hull, attended Hull Crown Court where she admitted to wounding the woman on April 9 last year. David Godfrey, prosecuting, said there was an argument between two groups of men on the dance floor of The Start pub in Hull city centre at 2am, Hull Live reports.
The mother-of-four did not know anyone involved in the conflict but she intervened and tried to calm down the heated situation while putting her arms around the man who had been headbutted. "It was during this lull in the confrontation that the defendant threw a bottle and that's what hit the face of the victim," said Mr Godfrey.
The mother who was hit in the face by the bottle was taken to Hull Royal Infirmary where it was revealed she suffered fractures to her face, including her eye bone and sinus areas. She had to undergo an operation under general anaesthetic to insert a metal plate inside her check area.
She later said that the "shocking" injuries caused her to suffer physically, emotionally, psychologically and financially. "I could not believe how I looked," she said.
"I didn't want anyone to see me looking this way. My children were also upset. I felt the lowest I have ever felt as a person and as the mother of my four children. It changed my life on a day-to-day basis."
While previously being an outgoing person, the victim said she is now anxious whenever she leaves the house, stating "I don't feel safe". She added: "When I think about having to leave the house, I get an intense feeling of dread coming over me."
She had to receive counselling and was only going out "every now and again" following the horrific incident. Speaking of the pub incident, she said: "I wish I had not got involved".
Charlotte Baines, mitigating, said that Haywood pleaded guilty at the first opportunity and had no previous convictions. She worked part-time and had a young family.
"This behaviour was wholly and utterly out of her usual character," said Miss Baines. "She expressed immediate regret for her actions. She felt disgusted with herself.
"She wishes to apologise to the victim directly for the harm that she has caused her. She has shown good victim awareness. She has understood entirely the severity of her actions.
"She realises that they have had a profound effect on the victim. She has expressed genuine remorse. There is a recognition of the damage she has done by her foolish and reckless actions."
The court heard how Haywood saw her partner get involved in the conflict and, after losing control, he headbutted the other man. This led to Haywood getting involved.
Miss Baines continued: "It was a moment of utter madness in the heat of the moment out of that misplaced sense of misguided loyalty. She was under the influence of alcohol. She had drunk 10 pints.
"There have been no further offences and no further trouble that she has involved herself in. The defendant has already moderated her drinking habits and now only drinks occasionally. She is determined not to become that intoxicated again."
Judge Mark Bury told Haywood: "Your partner and another man got into an argument. It may have been that the other man was winding your partner up. Your partner lost control of himself and headbutted this other man.
"Once your partner was excluded, you were unnecessarily involved by finger-pointing and engaging with the door staff, no doubt in an attempt to ensure that the other man was ejected."
Speaking of the victim, Judge Bury said: "She has got over the physical injuries but the emotional impact, it's clear, is ongoing. You used a weapon, which was the bottle.
"You were under the influence of alcohol. This was in a public place – a public house that was full of patrons at the time of this incident."
Haywood was jailed for one year. As she left the dock and was taken down to the cells, she cried and shouted "I'm so sorry" to her partner, who was sitting in the public gallery.
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