A 20-year-old Douglas woman has been handed a suspended sentence after punching another woman in the face.

Arianna Nicole Skillen, of Peel Road, pleaded guilty to a charge of assault causing actual bodily harm (ABH) in a magistrates’ court and was sentenced to 14 weeks’ custody, suspended for two years.

Prosecutor Michael Jelski told the court how, on January 20 at 9pm, Skillen was walking along Marathon Road in Douglas.

She was said to have become involved in an argument with another woman on the opposite side of the road.

Mr Jelski said that Skillen ran across the road and struck the woman in the face, causing her to fall to the ground.

She then straddled the woman and held her up by hair, continuing to punch her several times.

The assault was stopped by members of the public and Skillen ran off, but was later found on Castlemona Avenue and arrested.

During a police interview Skillen admitted she had been involved in an argument. She said she pushed the woman to the ground before hitting her in the face.

Skillen said that the woman had made comments to her which had provoked the attack.

The victim was taken to accident and emergency at Noble’s Hospital suffering from bruising and double vision.

In court, Skillen’s advocate, Louise Cooil, entered a basis of plea on behalf of her client.

In the plea Skillen said that there had been a high level of animosity between her and the woman over a number of months.

She said that the victim had followed her and insulted her, then put her foot out in an attempt to kick her.

Skillen admitted punching the woman but said that she believed she was acting in self defence.

Ms Cooil said: ’This was a friendship turned sour. There has been an angry verbal altercation going down the street. Ms Skillen would say she did lose it quite dramatically. She is not a violent person. She has not gone to deliberately see the woman. She has been staying away from her.

’It was a coincidence the complaint was outside her building at the time. She thought she was going to kick her.

’She accepted there have been punches. It was not pre-meditated. The offence was of a very short duration.

’There was an intervention by members of the public but Ms Skillen had realised she was going too far and was stopping.

Ms Cooil went on to say that Skillen had suffered depressive episodes, been in unhealthy relationships, and was 11 weeks pregnant.

Skillen was also made the subject of a 12 month Suspended Sentence Supervision Order, ordered to pay £200 compensation to her victim and £125 prosecution costs.