A MOTHER-of-three who disapproved of her step-daughter's older boyfriend threw a glass into his face during a Boxing Day fracas.

Peter Holmes suffered a three-centimetre wound to his face which needed six stitches, York Crown Court heard.

Jeremy Hill-Baker, prosecuting, said Mandy Lambert, 39, from New Earswick, threw the glass after Mr Holmes had unexpectedly turned up at a pub with her step-daughter, Sofia Lambert, and Mandy Lambert's estranged husband, on December 26.

Lambert, who works at Boots Chemist, was waiting for them to leave her other step-daughter's 18th birthday party in Haxby Working Men's Club to avoid a confrontation.

But trouble flared when they accidentally surprised her by turning up at the pub where she was waiting for the "coast to clear".

Mr Hill-Baker said Lambert threw the half-pint glass at Mr Holmes when he had returned from the toilet and intervened in a struggle she was having with her step-daughter.

She pleaded guilty to wounding and was sentenced to a 100-hour community punishment order.

Elaine Mclaughlin, mitigating, said his client had been through a "nightmare" since the incident.

She told the court that there had been a "history of problems" involving Mr Holmes and her elder step-daughters.

"She didn't expect him to turn up at the pub on the night of the party," Miss Mclaughlin said.

"He appeared quite by chance. This incident was completely out of character and she has expressed great remorse.

"All her life she has tried to provide a stable background for her children."

Judge David Bentley told the court he did not believe Lambert had thrown the glass on purpose.

"This was a most unpleasant incident," he said. "I'm satisfied you never intended to inflict injury on the complainant.

"You were trying to humiliate him by throwing a drink in his face.

"Everything I know about you suggests you won't behave in that way again."

Lambert wept in court when Judge Bentley told her she would not be given a prison sentence.

Updated: 14:12 Monday, June 16, 2003