A teenager who admitted attacking an acquaintance during an argument over a man was handed a conditional discharge by a magistrate.

Chekea Furbert, 18, pleaded guilty to unlawfully assaulting Dwanae Simons causing bodily harm during an incident at the Calais clothing store in Hamilton Parish.

Prosecutor Paula Tyndale told the court that the teenager, of Radnor Road, Hamilton Parish, had known the victim for five years but their relationship had become strained over the past four months due to "suspicions over a gentleman".

Ms Tyndale said that Furbert had questioned Ms Simons over a man named Keno ? whom the defendant later explained to the court was her boyfriend.

Following a verbal exchange, the defendant attacked the other woman leaving her with bruising to her left eye and injuries to her chest and finger. Furbert does not have any similar previous convictions.

The defendant told the court: "She pushed me first and her sister and her jumped me and swung a helmet at me. I felt threatened, so I hit them."

Senior Magistrate Khamisi Tokunbo pointed out that this was not the version of events according to the prosecution, and warned her about her behaviour saying: "It's stupid. Real stupid."

He explained that the 12-month conditional discharge meant that she could not do anything that landed her in trouble for the next year.

"If Keno's playing with somebody else, that's not how you deal with it. That's dumb," added the magistrate.