A MUM who left another woman with a broken nose when she head butted her has walked from court.

Jade Taylor, 25, smashed her head into the face of the former friend after the pair had been involved in a slanging match in the street.

But after hearing that Taylor, who hit her so hard she hurt her forehead, was sorry for what she had done to her former friend a judge imposed a suspended sentence.

Hannah Squire, prosecuting, told Swindon Crown Court that Taylor and her victim had been friends in the past, but had fallen out.

On Thursday, February 25, she said the pair came across each other in the area between Hilmarton Avenue and Alton Close in Penhill.

She said Taylor was acting aggressively towards Stacey Telling and as they argued she smashed her forehead into her nose.

"Jade Taylor head butted Stacey Telling with quite a considerable degree of force which is not only apparent from the injuries to Miss Telling, but likewise from the injuries to Jade Taylor's forehead where it connected to Miss Telling's nose," Miss Squire said.

As a result of the attack the victim went to hospital where she needed eight stitches in the injury, which was too tender to be X-rayed.

But when that was done a few days later it was found she needed an operation to realign her nose.

When she was questioned the defendant said she thought that Miss Telling was going to punch her, so she got her head butt in first.

Taylor, of Hilmarton Avenue, admitted causing actual bodily harm.

Laura Paisley, defending, said Taylor, who has a seven-year-old child, had not been in trouble before and was subject to a degree of provocation.

"As soon as the victim fell to the floor Miss Taylor realised the threat had gone. She was quite shocked by the level of force she used," she said.

"I don't think she thought it would cause so much injury. It has had an affect on her. She is suffering anxiety, depression, she is exceedingly concerned about what she has done."

She said she now works six days a week.

Passing sentence Judge Tim Mousley QC said: "You and Stacey Telling had been friends for some time but you had fallen out.

"A background had developed between the two of you and by February of this year things were acrimonious between you.

"On February 25 you met her outside her home on Hilmarton Avenue. Words were exchanged, you became abusive to each other.

"You swore at her. She swung a fist at you and your response to that was to head butt her and obviously that was more than necessary to defend yourself."

He imposed a six-month jail term suspended for 18 months with a 21 day curfew, 20 days of rehabilitation activity requirement and to pay £250 compensation.

The judge also imposed a restraining order banning her from harassing or causing fear of violence for three years.