A WOMAN convicted of assaulting her daughter-in-law was given a suspended jail sentence by a judge who told Zarina Patel she had beaten the victim mercilessly.

Judge David Boulton told her at Preston Crown Court that such a case would normally attract an immediate prison sentence.

But he had found exceptional circumstances in her case not to do that.

The 50-year-old woman of London Road, Blackburn, had denied a charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm on Parveen Mubarak.

She was found guilty by a jury following trial.

Preston Crown Court heard that she still denied what had been alleged.

She was given nine months prison suspended for two years, with a two-year supervision order.

She was assisted by an interpreter at her court appearance.

The judge told her "This behaviour is disgraceful."

He said there were exceptional circumstances not to send her to prison - her background, physical and mental problems.

She had a heart condition, had been suffering from depression since arrest and the judge felt that she would

not able to cope with immediate prison.