A woman who wounded a man in a knife attack spat at him as she was jailed for five years.

Emma Brennan, of Grove Road, Chatham, leaned over in the dock at Maidstone Crown Court and spat in the face of Arkan Faeq, who was scarred for life in the attack.

Brennan, 27, had denied wounding with intent but was convicted by a jury.

Her boyfriend Stuart Dempsey, 35, also of Grove Road, was jailed for 15 months for possessing an offensive weapon.

He was cleared of the wounding charge.

The attack happened in Chatham High Street. Mr Faeq, an Iraqi, needed hospital treatment for 10cm and 5cm cuts to his left cheek and a gash to his forehead.

He said: "It all started when they told us to go back to our own country.

"I asked them to stop saying that and go away and the next thing I knew I was being stabbed."

Afterwards the hearing, DC Darryl Paulson said: "Her (Brennan's) actions have left an innocent man with scars for life.

"A five-year sentence reflects the severity of the assault and I am satisfied that the court came to the right conclusion.

"Kent Police will not tolerate people who carry knives or weapons of any kind.

"We are also pleased that Dempsey has been jailed for the part he played during the incident."

For the full story see today's Medway Messenger.