A DRUNKEN senior sales assistant was spared an immediate prison sentence after she had broken another woman’s arm and bit a doorman.

Leah Ballard, 22, had knocked back six double vodkas before she was involved in a flare up in the lavatory at Yates wine bar in Southampton city centre over the content of an Internet social networking site.

Prosecutor David Jenkins said it spilled out into the smoking area where Ballard pushed Jade Morris in the chest, causing her to fall over and break her right arm. A doorman tried to break up the fracas but Ballard sank her teeth into him.

Ballard, of Freshfield Road, Southampton, admitted causing grievous bodily harm and common assault.

Recorder Nicholas Atkinson QC, who heard Ms Morris was “immobilised” for six weeks as a result of the fracture, gave her a nine month suspended sentence coupled with orders to complete 200 hours unpaid work for the community and pay £350 costs.

Jamie Gammon, defending, said Ballard had not intended to injure her victim and had not thought of the potential consequences when she pushed her. “She has no recollection of biting the doorman but when interviewed accepted responsibility.”