A TEENAGE schoolgirl from Malmesbury attacked her 13-year-old friend after drinking more than a litre of cider, a court heard on Tuesday April 29.

The defendant, who is 15 and cannot be named for legal reasons, was drinking with friends in the cloister gardens at around 6.30pm on Easter Sunday.

She assaulted a girl she had known for eight years after they started calling each other names.

Jane Warren, prosecuting at Chippenham Magistrates Court this week, said the defendant had a three-litre bottle of cider that she was sharing with friends.

She said after the younger girl tried to move away, the defendant followed her and hit her six times in the face, around the eyes, ears and mouth. "The victim tried to run away and the defendant pulled her hair and caused her to fall down," said Mrs Warren.

She said the younger girl was left with a cut to her right eye and lip.

Steven Clifford, defending, said the victim had started the name-calling. The younger girl was left with a cut to her right eye and lip, said Mrs Warren.

When police approached the defendant, Mrs Warren said she screamed at them. She was arrested and told police the victim had deserved it and she was not sorry, said Mrs Warren.

The girl told the court she was sorry and had already made up with the victim, who had accepted her apology.

She pleaded guilty to common assault and was sentenced to a three-month referral order.