A man who tried to act as peacemaker during a town centre confrontation between two groups of young people was hit in the face by a plastic beer glass which was thrown at him.

Blackburn Magistrates' Court heard the victim could not see out of his eye immediately after the incident and needed hospital treatment.

Kiera Wiggett, 24, of George Street, Accrington, pleaded guilty to assault, having arrived late to an argument between two groups before deciding to launch a plastic beer glass at the victim causing a nasty cut.

She was made subject to a community order for 12 months with 15 days rehabilitation activity requirement and 90 days alcohol abstinence requirement.

She was ordered to pay £300 compensation.

Nicola Mills, prosecuting, said the victim was out with a group of his friends and Wiggett with hers in Burnley on September 4, 2022.

Abuse was shouted and punches thrown, and the aggrieved stepped in between to try and calm things down.

“He then felt something hit his face,” said Miss Mills. “His friends said they had seen the defendant throw something at him.

“The plastic glass caught him just below his right eye, causing a cut which needed gluing at hospital.”

Damien Pickup, by way of mitigation, said it wasn’t his client who had been throwing punches.

He said there had been some banter and she claimed she heard some homophobic comments.

“She threw a plastic glass at the aggrieved, never imagining it would result in the injuries caused,” said Mr Pickup.”She accepts she was reckless.”

Mr Pickup read a letter written by the defendant and addressed to the aggrieved, in which she said she didn’t mean to hurt him or anyone else.

“I have never done this before and I will never do it again,” she said. “I am deeply sorry from the bottom of my heart. I am not a nasty horrible person.”

After hearing Wiggett had no previous convictions, District Judge Alexandra Preston said she was able to treat it as an isolated incident.

“You came in at the tail-end of the incident and following comments made, I would imagine by both sides, you threw a pint plastic glass towards the victim.

“You acted on impulse, not intending to cause injury but you were clearly reckless.”