A YOUNG mother is starting a custodial sentence after carrying out her threat to attack another teenager, who had been speaking to her boyfriend at the time.

Karly Sanderson, 18, returned home and came back armed with a wooden axe handle, which she used to strike the other woman over the head, in the incident outside Close House Community Centre, in Bishop Auckland.

Durham Crown Court was told her victim, also aged 18 at the time, suffered an 8 cm gash in the back of her head, causing heavy bleeding, and required hospital treatment.

Sanderson, of Stanley Street, Bishop Auckland, was quickly apprehended and told police she had lost her temper.

She admitted a charge of wounding with intent at an earlier hearing, but having two previous assault convictions on her record she had to be considered for a long sentence, on the basis there was a risk of her causing serious harm to others in future.

Anne Richardson, in mitigation, said: "By her own admission she gets 'raged' quite easily.

"She knows she is liable to a lengthy sentence and has made her arrangements for her child to be taken care of. It will be her first period in custody.

"It was a spur of the moment matter that has landed her in so much difficulty," added Miss Richardson.

Imposing a sentence, of two years and six months, Judge Peter Armstrong said she must spend the first 15 months behind bars before she can be considered for release by the parole board.