in Magistrates' Court yesterday.

Bisa Saltus, a 22-year-old mother of two sons, pleaded guilty to assault doing bodily harm to Quinnell Smith on March 2.

The court heard how Saltus, of North Street, had gone to the home of Smith, the father of her younger son, to discuss the care of their son.

An argument ensued and Saltus punched and scratched Smith and threw two video cassettes at him, one of which stuck him in the head.

She then picked up a metal-end table and swung it at Smith, but did not hit him with it. Smith suffered scratches to his face and a bloody nose.

The child of the pair was in the bedroom of the residence at the time of the assault.

Saltus told Senior Magistrate Will Francis that the fight had started because Smith was angry that when he went to see his son the child was not wearing any socks.

She said Smith did not provide sufficient financial support for the child and did not spend enough time with him. She argued that Smith should not therefore complain about how she cared for the child because he himself was not taking responsibility for the child.

Saltus said Smith had shoved her during the quarrel and she had retaliated.

Mr. Francis granted Saltus a conditional discharge for 12 months, but told her that in the future she should find "more appropriate'' ways to deal with her frustrations.