A PAPERGIRL was in tears after she was attacked on her early morning round, a court heard.

Burnley Magistrates were told how Stacey Riley, 21, slapped the 14-year-old but the prosecution alleged she punched and "set about" the teenager.

Riley, of Fir Street, Nelson, admitted assault by beating in July and was conditionally bailed until 15 October for trial.

Andy Robinson, prosecuting, said the papergirl was walking on Hallam Road, Nelson, at about 7am when three girls shouted at her and told her to stop.

She ignored them and continued on her round.

An eight-year-old girl then hit her on the back and asked her why she was ignoring them.

Riley claimed the 14-year-old had been bullying someone at school and when she was asked to go to a house to identify that person, the papergirl refused and started crying.

Mr Robinson said the complainant started to walk away and when one of the younger children snatched a newspaper off her, she grabbed it back.

Riley then got hold of the papergirl causing her to stumble back and then set about punching her. Another of the girls told her to leave it and the defendant ran off down a back street.

The prosecutor said the papergirl stood there for a moment crying and then went back to the newsagents, unable to carry on with her round.

She suffered bruises to the back of her left ear, a stiff and painful neck and a constant headache. Riley was later arrested and interviewed.

Geoff Ireland, defending, said Riley claimed she slapped the girl. There had been an altercation, the aggrieved had been rude to her and she had slapped her once.