A WOMAN at the centre of a race-hate fight in which an axe was used and a brick thrown was last night behind bars.

Dawn Mann and a gang of drunk friends sparked a mass brawl by hurling abuse at blackmen outside her home in Stockton.

Teesside Crown Court heard that as many as 14 people were involved in the latenight fracas - and all were injured.

Osman Mohammed suffered cuts all over his body after he and his friend, Hani Abdalla, were set upon on July 15, last year.

Mohammed, 34, and 22-yearold Abdalla were each fined £200 after they admitted using threatening words during the incident.

Dean Harrison, 23, was given an eight-month prison sentence, suspended for a year, after he pleaded guilty to a charge of affray.

Mann admitted affray and a burglary on July 12, and was jailed by Judge Howard Crowson for three years.

The court heard how the burglary involved her sneaking into a house in Stockton and stealing a mobile phone and a purse.

Mann's barrister, Richard Hermann, said that although she had an extremely extensive record, many convictions were for minor things.

The 40-year-old, of no fixed address, had mixed alcohol and tablets before the burglary in Densham Drive, said Mr Herrmann.

Duncan McReddie, for Harrison, of Rudyard Avenue, Stockton, said: "He describes his conduct as shocking and stupid."

Abdalla, of Abingdon Road, Middlesbrough, and Mohammed, of Wade Avenue, Stockton, were said to be unwilling participants in the fight.

Robin Turton, prosecuting, told the court they were found prostrate on the ground when police arrived on the scene in Skinner Street.

He said abuse was shouted between both sets of people before Harrison left the flat and punched someone in the back of the head.

Mann threw a brick, said Mr Turton, and witnesses spoke of an axe being brandished.

One was later found in a bedroom.

Mr Turton said some of the injuries on Mohammed's body were consistent with him being struck with a sharp blade.

Judge Crowson also ordered Harrison to do 80 hours of unpaid community work.