A young mother has been jailed after she hurled a glass in the face of another woman at a nightclub, seriously damaging her teeth and leaving her unable to eat properly for months.

Police at first arrested the wrong person after the attack in toilets at Tantra in Sheerness but victim Debbie Glover did her own detective work and after obtaining CCTV footage from the club discovered it was Romana Pryce who had glassed her.

The 21-year-old, who has a son aged four, was sentenced to 12 months in prison.

Pryce, of Vincent Gardens, Sheerness, admitted through her lawyer that her behaviour was “completely unjustified, disgusting and shameful”.

Maidstone Crown Court heard the victim was in a cubicle in the toilets at 3am on May 21 last year when another woman kicked the door.

An argument started and, after Miss Glover emerged from the cubicle, the glass hit her in the mouth.

“The result was she sustained serious injury,” said prosecutor Mary Jacobson.

“Her teeth had moved and she was bleeding. She didn’t see who threw the item.”

Bouncers told the woman Miss Glover suspected of throwing the glass to leave. The woman was then arrested.

The victim, herself a mother, was treated in hospital and then needed a prolonged period of dental treatment.

“After treatment Miss Glover made inquiries and was able to obtain CCTV from the club which clearly showed it was the defendant throwing the glass in close proximity,” said Miss Jacobson.

“She showed it to members of staff at the club and the defendant was identified and arrested on June 4.”

Pryce, who has previous convictions for theft and a reprimand for assault, said she threw the glass but did not intend to hit Miss Glover.

She added she was drunk and did not know it hit the victim.

Judge Charles Macdonald QC told Pryce: “You struck in the mouth an innocent woman who was a total stranger and had done nothing to you.

"She has suffered the psychological effects of being assaulted when out in public.”

The judge reduced the sentence from 18 months to 12 months because she had a young child.

Debbie Glover said in a victim statement there had been an ongoing effect on her, both physically and mentally.

“I was unable to eat proper food for a long period of time,” she said.

“I had to have food and drink through a straw for eight weeks.”

Two incisors were displaced and two other teeth were fractured. She also had cuts to her neck and chest.

She could not bite properly afterwards and endured countless hospital and dental appointments.

She said she was unable to continue working on a beauty counter because of her appearance after the attack.

“It could be many years before I am back to normal,” she continued.

“I will have to go through numerous medical procedures to rectify the damage.

"I was suffering so badly with anxiety I would not go out of the house alone" - victim Debbie Glover

“I had to take a fair amount of time off work. I worked at a beauty counter where appearance is important.

"I couldn’t go into work because of facial injuries. I felt so unhappy about how I looked I resigned.

“I still avoid smiling so that people can’t see my teeth. The most damage is the effect on my family. I was suffering so badly with anxiety I would not go out of the house alone.

“I couldn’t pick up my children from school. A doctor who has placed me on antidepressants.”

Daniel Benjamin, defending, said Pryce was so ashamed and appalled by her behaviour she had not touched alcohol and been out socialising since.

“She is the primary carer for her four-year-old son,” he told Judge Macdonald.

“It is not for her, but for him I ask you to suspend the inevitable sentence.”

Mr Benjamin said the child could live with his father if Pryce was jailed, although he was reluctant to do so and clung to his mother.

“A suspended sentence would be better for the community at large,” he continued.

“By their nature, prisons have a number of people who have difficulties with aggression.

“If you send her to prison you will put her into an environment where there is a great deal of aggression.

"There are courses in prison but, sadly, they are not effective.”

Mr Benjamin submitted the sentence should be suspended because of the impact on her son and for the benefit of the community.