Melissa Jane Ferreira, who pleaded guilty to grave and criminal assault, later told officers that she had reacted violently because she thought the woman had made a nasty remark about her.
The 18-year-old was sentenced in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday to 50 hours of community service, was given a nine-month probation order and was banned from entering pubs, bars and clubs for three months.
The victim, the court heard, told police that she had approached Ferreira in the early hours of 11 October to tell her she had mispronounced a Madeiran place name.
Although she said she had meant it in a friendly way, she said Ferreira reacted by slapping her in the face.
When the victim slapped Ferreira back, the defendant grabbed her by the hair and pulled her face downwards before kneeing or striking her in the face with her foot, the court was told.
Advocate Jamie Bell, defending, said that the victim, who works for a hairdresser and is on an apprenticeship scheme at Highlands, had pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity and that her young age should be taken into account.
He added that Ferreira, who had drunk three vodka and lemonades and three ‘shots’, had just been through a bad break-up at the time of the offence and had been suffering from depression.
Assistant Magistrate Peter Harris, presiding, told Ferreira: ‘This was a serious assault.
‘It seems to have arisen out of nothing.
‘When you struck the victim in the face with part of your body, that caused a significant injury to her face and the loss of a tooth.’
He also warned Ferreira that the victim may bring civil proceedings for compensation.
