A DRUNK mum who bit another woman's nose and left her scarred for life after a taxi rank row has kept her freedom.

Kayleigh Oliver's victim needed plastic surgery to a 2cm by 2cm wound after trouble flared in the cab queue at Park Lane in Sunderland in November 2018.

Newcastle Crown Court heard the victim now has to use high-factor sunscreen, even on dull days, to protect the skin on her nose and wears special camouflage make-up to cover the scaring.

She said in an impact statement: "I hate looking in the mirror. I have never, ever had to deal with anything like this in my life.

"I have never had a physical fight. I have been told I will have a permanent scar."

The married mum added: "I won't leave the house or answer the door if I don't have make-up on.

"Each time I look in the mirror it is a reminder."

The court heard the victim had been out in Sunderland with her husband and another couple when they encountered Oliver, 31, who sat at the front of the taxi queue.

Prosecutor Joe Hedworth said the victim pointed out to Oliver that there was a queue and she should go to the back.

Mr Hedworth said: "The defendant took exception to that comment and said 'I will bite your nose off'.

"The complainant asked who the defendant thought she was and the defendant replied 'I'm from Hendon" as she stumbled about, shouting abuse.

"The defendant fell to the ground and removed her shoes."

The court heard a struggle broke out between the two women and the victim then thought "that was the end of it".

But Mr Hedworth added: "However, shortly afterwards she felt a hand from behind grabbing her face and she was pulled to the ground."

The court heard Oliver pulled at the victim's hair as attempts were made to stop the violence.

Mr Hedworth added: "The defendant managed to flip the complainant onto her front so they were face to face.

"At that stage, the defendant bit her nose."

'PERMANENT SCAR'

The court heard Oliver, who was wearing a tartan skirt and white vest top, was later seen by a police officer with blood on her clothing and mouth, which she said was from a cut lip after a fight.

When she attended the police station for interview, Oliver said she had been "very drunk" and taken prescription Valium.

Mr Hedworth said: "She said she had just split up with her boyfriend and went out with her friends to take her mind off things.

"She couldn't remember anything after Gatsby's bar but she knew she had lost her family and friends."

The court heard Oliver apologised for her behaviour and was "crying and shaking" when shown the CCTV.

Glenn Gatland, defending, said Oliver, who has had an "unhappy history", is "very sorry" for the injury she caused and apologises for her behaviour.

No sentence I can impose is ever going to repair the damage that has been done, physically or emotionally, I need to make that clear.

Mr Gatland added: "It was her first evening out in many, many months and she had been taken out by friends, given some drink and she had taken some Valium because she was anxious about leaving her home.

"She had been separated from her friends and was trying to find them.

"Her feet were aching so she decided to sit down at the taxi rank and took her shoes off.

"However, she was spoken to about pushing in at the taxi rank and that appears to have been the catalyst."

The court heard Oliver, who already had one child and has since had another baby, has no previous convictions but was cautioned in 2017 after a violent confrontation with another woman at the Bridges Shopping centre in the same city.

Oliver, from Sunderland, admitted unlawful wounding.

Judge Stephen Earl sentenced Oliver, who is sole carer to her children, to 22 months imprisonment, suspended for two years, with rehabilitation requirements and a six month curfew from 8pm to 6am.

Judge Earl said: "No sentence I can impose is ever going to repair the damage that has been done, physically or emotionally, I need to make that clear."

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