A WOMAN who glassed a pub customer in the face after she drank over 10 pints of beer has escaped a jail sentence.

Lynne Preece, aged 38, was so drunk she had to be held up by a policeman called to the scene, Worcester Crown Court was told.

Brian Dean, prosecuting, said she had been flirting with the victim Terry Barker during a pub crawl in Hereford.

But a row blew up and Mr Barker was struck in the face with a glass which shattered.

He had cuts from the bridge of his nose to his left eye.

Preece, of Grandstand Road, Hereford, admitted common assault.

Sentencing her to two years probation yesterday, Recorder Patrick Thomas QC said alcohol had ruined her life for years and was set to bring her more misery unless she gave it up.

He ordered her to undergo alcohol abuse counselling.

Mr Dean said on August 5 last year a group of people drank heavily at a number of pubs before ending up at The Vaults in Hereford.

The victim's girlfriend warned him not to get involved in an argument with Preece. But the warning came too late and the defendant suddenly struck out with a glass.

Mr Dean said Preece was very drunk and seemed to be falling asleep with her eyes half closed.

She told police the victim had lunged at her and he fell on to the glass by accident.

She had previous convictions for violence including assaults on police and had a record for dishonesty.

Defence counsel Nicolas Cartwright said she was addicted to alcohol and needed the help of the probation service.