A PREGNANT teenager who launched a vicious attack in the house of a woman she called a friend has been jailed for a year.

Cachelle Wilson threatened her victim Marcella Higgins with further violence if she told the police, but she had already reported the incident.

Richard Thomas, prosecuting, told Swindon Crown Court Wilson grabbed the victim and threw her against the wall, punching her after she fell to the floor and raining as many as 18 kicks on her, until another woman stopped her.

Mr Thomas said after the attack Wilson said: "'I beat you like an animal. No-one deserves that. I am sorry'."

Wilson, 19, of Sycamore Grove, Trowbridge, pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to common assault, witness intimidation, and criminal damage to a fire alarm at a Trowbridge hostel.

David Chedgey, defending, said his client had a traumatic childhood and a short fuse, but had now sought help from her GP for anger management.

"She is three months pregnant and says to send her to prison would destroy her," he added.

Jailing her, Judge Charles Wade said: "There is no doubt it was a prolonged and violent attack. This is not a case where the court can consider a community penalty. In my view only custody can be justified."