A YOUNG woman attacked her friend with a hockey stick after a bizarre row over clothes.

Blackburn magistrates heard the night before the incident the two women had been out drinking together and at one stage the victim of the assault was dancing around a Burnley nightclub wearing only her underwear.

She later demanded the clothes off the other girl's back and was annoyed when she refused to hand them over.

Rose Rhonda Abbott, 20, of Aikman Place, Burnley, pleaded guilty to assaulting Eloise Cottam causing her actual bodily harm and possessing an offensive weapon, a hockey stick, in Whittle Court. She was sentenced to six months in prison suspended for 12 months and ordered to pay £160 compensation.

Parveen Akhtar, prosecuting, said the victim described Abbott as a "casual" friend who she had known for about two years.

Having met at Miss Cottam's flat and had a couple of drinks they then went out drinking in the town centre. Miss Cottam said she remembered nothing else until the following day when she found Facebook messages from Rose calling her names and alleging she had assaulted her the night before.

"She says the defendant then came round to collect her clothes and she went out to meet her carrying the garments," said Miss Akhtar. "Abbott got out of the car and ran towards her with the hockey stick in her hands and started hitting her on the arms and ribs. She fell to the floor where she was hit and kicked about the body and legs.

"The defendant's mother was screaming at her to stop and eventually pulled her away," she added.

Janet Sime, defending, said her client had no previous convictions.

The night before they had gone out with a third girl and had been drinking heavily. Abbott had been in casual dress and had borrowed an outfit off the aggrieved.

"They went out and at one stage my client found the other girl walking around a night club in her underwear," said Miss Sime. "My client went to another club but was later confronted by the aggrieved who was demanding she give her the clothes she was wearing. My client was then assaulted by the aggrieved and she defended herself."

Miss Sime said the next day the defendant's mother had driven her to the aggrieved's house to collect her clothes, including the brand new trainers, she had left.

"The other girl came out and threw the clothes at her and my client thought she was going to be attacked," said Miss Sime. "She accepts she swung the hockey stick but then dropped it and the fight started again."

She said the hockey stick was in the car because her client's mother worked as a carer and had to travel to some unsavoury areas late at night.

"She explained that to the police who gave her some advice and provided her with an alarm," said Miss Sime.