A ‘JEALOUS’ soldier who threw a bottle at a love rival, leaving her needing 12 stitches, kept her freedom.

Private Melissa McKay, 22, had thrown a bottle she was holding at Elise Haworth from three or four yards away.

She inflicted a head wound, which the victim was told by medics was deep enough to go down to the bone.

Miss Haworth had to be taken to hospital by ambulance after the sudden, early hours violence at Rewind in Burnley, the town's crown court heard. The hearing was told McKay struck at the 21st birthday party of her ex-partner Rebecca ‘Becks’ Green.

McKay had been invited, had flown in from her base in Germany to join the celebration.

But, Miss Green had by that stage started a relationship with Miss Haworth and Miss Green had told the defendant she was no longer welcome at the function. McKay had tried to talk things over with Miss Green at the gathering, but ended up hurling the bottle and hitting the victim .

The defendant, of Grassington Drive, Burnley, admitted wounding. She was given a community order, with 80 hours unpaid work, which she will be able to complete in Germany after she returns there on January 6. She must pay £1,000 compensation, £350 costs and a £60 statutory surcharge.