'I must still use straw a year after attack' - victim speaks out after Ludlow glassing

Carrie Adshead was left covered in blood and had to be rushed to hospital after the attack by hairdresser Charlotte Bennett.

One of her front teeth was chipped, and she suffered cuts to her nose and face and to the back of her head.

The 19-year-old, also a hairdresser, from Ludlow, said: "We knew each other through mutual friends. We used to get on fine and even socialised a few times together, although there had been a few cross words before that night for one reason or another.

"On the night of the attack I went out for a quick social drink with my boyfriend, his friend and his new partner.

"I rarely drink so I drove and parked up outside the pub – on entering the pub Charlotte began to shout things across the room at me, so I turned my back to her."

The attack happened during an evening out at the Blue Boar pub in Ludlow in November last year.

Miss Adshead said she briefly went outside and when she came back in, Charlotte's sister had barged past her.

"Then everything went mad," she said.

"I was encountered by Charlotte, who is a lot taller than me, shouting things like 'what did you do to my sister?' at me close to my face and pushing me.

"Before I knew it I had vodka in my eyes and the taste of blood in my mouth.

"She had chipped my teeth and cut my lip by smashing a glass in my face with force.

"It all quickly broke up and the police were called and Charlotte ran away.

"The rest was a bit of a blur, everything happened so quick.

"I was still in shock while in the ambulance to Shrewsbury."

Miss Adshead said that while she did not suffer any serious injuries in the attack, the effects of it had nevertheless been far-ranging and long-lasting.

"Although I did not have any great injury to my actual face, I have been left with two chipped front teeth which in my opinion is worse," she said.

"They will never heal.

"I also have sensitive scarring to the inside of my lip, a small chunk out of the bridge of my nose, and a scar to the back of my head.

"My teeth were perfectly straight and white, and I'm still undergoing cosmetic dentistry to fix this.

"I have to drink through a straw as my teeth are so very sensitive, which is frustrating as this has never been the case.

"I am always conscious of who may be looking at my 'wonky teeth'."

The victim said she was surprised Bennett did not receive a prison sentence for the attack, but insisted she now just wanted to get on with her life.

She said: "I'm not a nasty person and don't believe in twisting the knife as such, even after everything that has happened.

"I am more than happy that she finally pleaded guilty and admitted to what she did.

"I do think actions as awful as that should serve some sort of punishment.

"But I believe she has received a punishment that will never leave her or her profession. This is the closure I have been waiting for, for over a year now. I will be glad to put this behind me, leave it in the past and continue with my life."

Bennett escaped a custodial sentence during a court hearing.

The court had been told that she was upset on the night of the attack after being told that her grandmother was seriously ill.

It was also told that the attack was out of character and that she had not been in trouble with the court before.

Sentencing Bennett at Shrewsbury Crown Court, Recorder Nigel Daly told her: "You know the sort of damage you can do with a glass. I accept the basis of your plea, that you did not deliberately strike this girl with it.

"But by behaving in this reckless manner you did cause some injuries.

"Using a glass as a weapon can cause really nasty injuries, particularly to a young woman.

"It is not pretty and it stays with them for the rest of their lives.

"This was the first time you have found yourself before the courts. I take into account there was no intent to hit her with the glass at all, and that it was a particularly upsetting and emotional day."