appeared in court on her birthday yesterday and was allowed to escape prison.

Janell Liddia Caines, 20, found the father of her child in bed with another woman, Kylah Stowe. She clubbed Stowe on the head with the bat and stabbed her in the stomach, putting her in hospital for five days.

Caines, of Cedar Park Road, Devonshire, admitted wounding Stowe at an earlier hearing and was remanded in custody while a social inquiry report was prepared. Friday she appeared for sentencing.

Acting Senior Magistrate the Wor. John Judge told her: "This is a very serious matter and a very sad matter. You were very greatly and seriously provoked, and very greatly and seriously betrayed. Nonetheless, it's not something that can be glossed over.'' Normally, said Mr. Judge, sentence would have to be a prison term of a year or more.

"But taking into consideration all the provocation and other mitigating factors, and the distress that you have been through, I think I could deal with this by making an order for community service of 150 hours.'' "You need to get on with your life.''