A TEENAGER was today beginning a two-and-a-half-year jail term after an iron bar attack at a working men's club.

Rachel Quigley, 19, sobbed in the dock as Burnley Crown Court was told how she struck Gail Green at least three times about the head and body with a foot-long bar, leaving her cut and with facial injuries.

There had been bad blood between the defendant and Miss Green since the complainant was said to have spiked Quigley's drink at her father's wedding and left her unconscious.

The family and friends of the defendant, who had never been in trouble before, packed the public gallery and also wept as Recorder Heather Lloyd said alcohol-fuelled violence was all too prevalent and it was terrible to see Quigley in the dock.

The judge said she accepted there had been provocation but it was no excuse for the defendant's behaviour.

She added: "Those of us who have teenage children know how foolishly they behave when they have had drink or drugs and its a frightening prospect for all parents."

Quigley, of Healeywood Road, Burnley, had admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent last October.

Mark Lamberty, prosecuting, said Miss Green had been in the Burnley Wood Working Men's Club when she receiving a threatening telephone call from the defendant.

Some time after 10pm, Quigley went into the club and asked Miss Green to come outside, but she refused. The defendant and another person then accosted Miss Green and Quigley hit her three times with the iron bar when she was on the ground.

Mr Lamberty said Miss Green went to hospital, was given painkillers and later complained of headaches.

Robert Crawford, defending, said Quigley was of impeccable character and it would be questioned why she had behaved in such an unsavoury way.

Quigley said she did not take the metal bar into the club herself. The start of it all was the defendant's father's wedding, when she maintained her drink was spiked by Miss Green.

The defendant had ended up in hospital unconscious and after that there was a considerable amount of bad blood between the two women.

Mr Crawford said Quigley claimed she was abused in the club and Miss Green flew at her. Quigley maintained she was provoked, there was shouting and taunts and effectively the victim started the trouble. That did not however excuse the use of the metal bar.

The barrister told the court Quigley was on medication for depression, was not of the greatest intelligence and struggled to get by in many ways.She was normally withdrawn, did not go out and kept herself to herself.

Mr Crawford said Quigley's mistake had been to take drink on top of her tablets and after a lot of abuse from Miss Green she just snapped.

He added Miss Green had suffered relatively minor injuries, the defendant had never been away from home before and a custodial term would be very hard on her.