A SLASHING victim helped to save her attacker from prison after telling a judge: “Sending her to jail would be detrimental to her children.”

Louise Wardell was told by the judge at Teesside Crown Court that she owed thanks to the woman she left permanently scarred in the assault.

Samantha Turner suffered a gash to the left side of her face when mother-of-two Wardell, 25, punched her while she had a key in her hand.

The victim – the former motherin- law of Wardell – has been left with a scar which runs from the corner of her eye to the top of her mouth.

In a statement read to the court, Mrs Turner said she could have been blinded in the attack, but added: “I am past being bitter and want to move on.”

The youth offender worker was investigated by bosses, and says her character was called into question, despite being the innocent victim.

But she said: “Louise is the mother of my grandson and I do feel that it would be detrimental to the children if she was given a custodial sentence.”

Judge John Walford described Mrs Turner’s letter as “gracious” and told Wardell: “You should be grateful... her statement does her great credit.”

He added: “When I first saw this case, I was quite satisfied that it would be my duty to send you immediately to prison. Of course, you should be going to prison, and I hope you realise that, because having children can never be an excuse for criminal behaviour.

“Normally, those who engage in gratuitous violence must expect to be going to prison, whether or not they are the mother of children.”

Wardell, of Hillbrook Crescent, Ingleby Barwick, near Stockton, was given a ten-month jail term, suspended for two years, with supervision.

The court heard Wardell received a community order for stabbing Mrs Turner’s son – her ex-partner, Jack Scott – with a kitchen knife.

Katy Rafter, mitigating, said Wardell had made great efforts to address her anger issues and problems with a long-standing cannabis addiction.

She said the agencies which have helped Wardell are confident there will be no repeat and describe her parenting skills as “exceptional”.

Miss Rafter said Wardell, who admitted unlawful wounding, has produced regular negative drugs tests since the incident at her home on February 4.