THE lovesick girlfriend of a former Wolves footballer has been jailed for an attack on an innocent woman.

Dudley Council worker Debra Tomlinson has been caged for a year after she admitted smashing a glass over the head of a woman who was sat next to goalkeeper Andy De Bont in a bar.

Wolverhampton Crown Court was told Mr de Bont "manipulated" mother-of-two Tomlinson with threats of self harm and before the attack he had sent her a text picture of a noose.

Balraj Bhatia, for Tomlinson, said the 43-year-old was "extremely concerned" about her ex-lover and managed to track him down to the Beacon Hotel in Sedgley.

Mr Bhatia said: "Seeing him sitting next to this woman she totally misread the situation," he added she then picked up the glass on impulse.

Occupational health team assistant Tomlinson then threw the contents of the glass over Lisa Bradley before using it to strike her on the head.

The glass shattered and Miss Bradley, who was bleeding badly, had to go to hospital where a two-inch laceration to her head had to be stapled by a doctor.

Judge Amjad Nawaz told Tomlinson it was clear she had been in a relationship that was "not as loving as many others" and he had threatened self harm.

The judge said: "You went out looking for him after imbibing with alcohol and medication which was foolish, you found him and CCTV of the incident shows how the red mist descended and you lost your judgement."

The judge added Tomlinson saw Mr de Bont with a group of people and she then calmly walked over and sat on his lap before picking up the glass and attacking Miss Bradley.

He concluded: "I accept this was a short unexpected explosion of anger but the aftermath could have been far more significant. What you did was potentially an extremely dangerous act.

“Those who use items as weapons must know custody is inevitable."

Tomlinson, of Ferndown Avenue, Sedgley admitted wounding and it was accepted she had attacked a totally innocent person who had nothing at all to do with her domestic relationship.

Mr Bhatia said: "She did not know her and she knows she had no right to act that way.

"She has punished herself every day for what was a moment of madness."

In a victim impact statement Miss Bradley said: "I have turned into a weeping, nervous and insecure person.”

"I have lost my sparkle which breaks my heart. I get so annoyed when I think about what she did."