A MOTHER-OF-TWO will have to curtail her 21st birthday celebrations after a court decided she should spend three nights indoors each week for the next three months.

Harrogate magistrates yesterday imposed a 7pm to 7am curfew for Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights on Ann Marie Hayes, at the suggestion of probation officer Jonet Bown.

Mrs Bown compiled a report on the 20-year-old after she pleaded guilty to causing actual bodily harm to Stephanie Leech in a street attack in Ripon on Friday, August 19.

Mrs Bown said it might seem an unusual sentence for someone on an assault charge, but it would be particularly punishing for someone who spent £30 a week from her benefit money going out drinking.

She added it would be particularly appropriate as it covered Christmas and New Year, as well as Hayes' 21st birthday on December 16.

Court chairman Jane Garlick told Hayes, of Kiln Court, Ripon, she was responsible for a vicious attack which blackened the eye of her victim and caused other facial injuries.

She ordered Hayes to pay Ms Leech £225 compensation, plus court costs of £70.

Mark Haigh, prosecuting, said Hayes, who has children aged one and three, had taken exception to being called a bad mother as she walked through Ripon late at night.

She pushed Ms Leech over a wall at the corner of All- hallowgate and Finkle Street before grabbing her by the throat and punching her in the face two or three times.

In mitigation, Geoffrey Rogers said Hayes and her victim had got on well until a few months ago, when Hayes claimed she had been assaulted by Ms Leech.