by Keith Hunt

A woman with 52 previous offences who glassed her boyfriend in a pub has been jailed for 15 months after a judge said he was going take a "big chunk" of the sentence because she had pleaded guilty and made great efforts since.

With almost six months spent on remand counting towards the sentence, Aletha Edmondson is likely to be released within two months.

Judge Andrew Patience QC had heard about the 33-year-old mother's unhappy life and problems with excessive drinking that had led to her committing those 52 offences.

Edmondson, of Parsonage Road, Rusthall, had made good progress after her arrest in May and being held in custody.

"I hope you will keep up those real efforts I have been told about," said the judge. "When free, you have a big choice. If you go back to drinking you know what is going to happen.

"You don't want to leave here in despair. When released, start a new chapter and when you do I wish you well."

Maidstone Crown Court heard that Edmondson and her boyfriend Scott Marr were with another man in The Opera pub in Tunbridge Wells on May 18 when a row broke out between them.

Alex Wilson, prosecuting, said CCTV showed Edmondson picking up a glass and swinging it at Mr Marr. It struck him on the temple, leaving him with a 3in cut.

A witness described it as "pretty horrific" with blood everywhere. An ambulance was called but the victim declined to go to hospital.

Mr Wilson said Edmondson continued in "vociferous fashion" when police arrested her.

Mr Wilson said Mr Marr made a very short statement and refused to support the prosecution.

Andrew Lewis, defending, said Edmondson had hit a man she remained fond of. She had low self-esteem and had self-harmed for many years. Her children were in care.

Judge Patience said life had been tough for Edmondson and she had a continuing problem with alcohol.

"Perhaps because of drink and what life has done to you, you have shown yourself over the years to be capable of disorderly, drunken, unpleasant behaviour," he said.

"This, I am afraid, is a more serious example. I am sure you did it on the spur of the moment. I hope you realise you could have put that glass in his eye and blinded him.

"What would you have felt then?"