A WOMAN enjoying lunch and a chat with her mother in a Blackburn caf had a plate smashed over her head.

Blackburn magistrates heard that her assailant, Margaret Alma Etherington, 57, had 'flipped' because she thought the two women were laughing at her and her husband.

And Peter Wild, prosecuting, said Etherington was lucky only to have been charged with a common assault and not a more serious offence.

Etherington, of Clinton Street, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to assaulting Louise Charnley. She was given a conditional discharge for 12 months and ordered to pay £100 compensation and £55 costs.

Mr Wild said that at 1pm on a Saturday, Miss Charnley was sitting in a caf on Penny Street.

"She was simply minding her own business having lunch with her mother and chatting," said Mr Wild.

He said Etherington and her husband came to their table and asked if they could sit at the table, despite the fact that there were plenty of other tables that were not taken.

"The mother and daughter said no, because they were having a private conversation, but they felt uncomfortable and eventually moved to another table," said Mr Wild.

"Etherington then came up behind Miss Charnley and smashed a plate over her head. The blow caused a lump and a severe headache."

Elliott Taylforth, defending, said his client had no previous convictions and, at the age of 57, was losing her good character. He said Etherington and her husband had wanted to sit at a particular table, close to the lavatory.

"They made a civil request which was met with a not-so-civil response," said Mr Taylforth. "She hasn't a clue why she reacted in the way that she did and, in her own words, she just flipped.

"She thought these ladies were laughing and sniggering at her and her husband and she lost control," he added. "She wants to apologise to everyone concerned."