A WOMAN who bit a shop worker as he tried to stop her attacking his fellow employee has already spent a month in custody and must now pay her victim £75 compensation, a court heard.

Simon Smith ordered Julie Louise Coxon, 25, out of a clothing store in Clifton Moor, York, because she was making a scene in front of customers, Paula Jack told York magistrates.

But she returned and assaulted a second member of staff.

As Mr Smith pulled her off his co-worker and restrained her, Coxon bit him on the wrist and Coxon's sister, Kelly, punched him, said Ms Jack.

For Coxon, Sandra Keen said she was angry that she had been falsely accused of shoplifting.

Although she has previous convictions for theft, she had done nothing wrong in the store immediately before the incident. The court heard that her last appearance before a court was in 2000.

Coxon, of Rowntree Avenue, Clifton, York, pleaded guilty to assault. She lives on benefits.

Magistrates ordered her to pay £75 compensation to Mr Smith, a management trainee at the time of the assault and, because she had spent a month in custody on remand, gave her a 12-month conditional discharge.

The court heard that a charge against Coxon's sister was dropped after she agreed to be bound over.

Ms Jack said that Mr Smith was keeping an eye on the two sisters and their female companion in the store on March 1, 2002.

Coxon objected to him looking at her and swore at him. When she continued to swear and caused a scene, he ordered her out.

Mr Smith suffered a tooth mark and his skin was reddened by the bite.

Mrs Keen said that a member of staff pulled hair out of Coxon's head during the struggle and she had a bald patch for some time afterwards.

The biting incident took place after she was grabbed from behind.

Updated: 10:33 Tuesday, April 29, 2003