A woman was kicked in the face whilst others were spat upon and yanked by the hair during a vicious female fracas that exploded in a city centre. Shocked onlookers watched as Helen Wilson, Donna Cox and Samantha McDonald became embroiled in a broad daylight brawl with Dawn Bartley in the heart of Newcastle.

A court was told that during the melee, which erupted when a verbal row between Wilson and Bartley escalated into violence, kicks and blows were continuously delivered to heads and bodies, whilst Bartley's hair was yanked and she was knocked to the ground and spat upon. Police raced to the scene and broke up the ongoing fights which social media posts claimed the women were “screaming like banshees” and “swearing like troopers”.

Now, Bartley, 34, of Elswick, and Wilson, 58, of Benwell, have both been jailed for 16 weeks after they admitted to a public order offence. McDonald, 29, of Gateshead, received a 16-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, after confessing to the same offence and Cox, 44, of Elswick, who also admitted to an unrelated burglary offence, had her case postponed for a pre-sentence report.

Emily Hunt, prosecuting at Newcastle Magistrates' Court, said CCTV captured Wilson and Bartley rowing outside The People's Kitchen on September 29 last year before Wilson struck out.

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Miss Hunt added: "There's some more heated conversation and then Wilson punches Bartley again before grabbing her by the hair and attempting to drag her around.

"Bartley attempts to knee Wilson. They both fall to the ground. Bartley punches Wilson. McDonald then intervenes. Bartley then punches McDonald and there's further fighting.", reported Chronicle Live.

"McDonald spits at Bartley and then Bartley kicks McDonald full force in the face as she's got her head down to tie her hair back. Cox then gets involved and throws punches at Bartley. McDonald grabs Bartley by the hair and drags her around.

"McDonald ends up on top of Bartley and punches her multiple times. Cox intervenes and kicks Bartley. McDonald kicks Bartley to the head."

The court was told that police arrived on scene and several women were detained, including Wilson, Bartley, McDonald and Cox. Bartley was also rushed to hospital, where she remained for several days receiving treatment for her injuries.

Alanna Wesencraft, representing Bartley, who has 21 offences on her record, said: "She accepts she acted unlawfully but she does have a number of issues in terms of dealing with her emotions in heightened situations. She had relapsed into alcohol misuse but she us now engaging with services."

Andy O'Hanlon, representing McDonald, who has three offences on her record, said: "She has suffered some quite grave domestic violence. He is now in custody and will be for a little whilst. She has since got herself off crack-cocaine and alcohol. She has also started seeing her father again."

Neil Connell, representing Wilson, who has 86 offences on her record and was recalled to prison following her latest crimes, said: "There was a verbal argument between Miss Wilson and Miss Bartley because Miss Bartley had taken some cans of lager, which belonged to another resident in her flats.

"Miss Wilson wanted her to make good of that and give the cans back. There's a heated verbal exchange between the two of them before Miss Wilson throws a punch. There is no kicking by Miss Wilson."

Across three separate sentencing hearings, District Judge Meek told McDonald, Wilson and Bartley: "This was a prolonged and sustained incident. It erupted into significant violence over a period of time.

"It took place in a public place where people were going about there business and they had to endure what was going on. You should be ashamed of your activity."

Addressing Bartley, District Judge Meek said: "Sometimes, you may have been provoked and, on occasion, acted in self-defence but, more often, you prolonged and provoked the incident. You repeatedly returned to the scene.

"You repeatedly made yourself involved in the incident with you antagonistic behaviour. Ultimately, you approached somebody, who may have spat at you but was completely unaware of you and she had her head down and turned from you whilst she tied her hair up, and you kicked her with full force to the head whilst she was in the position."

Addressing Wilson, the judge stated: "You started the whole incident. You prolonged it for quite some time and became involved at different stages."

District Judge Meek noted that McDonald's recent progress and brief criminal record allowed her to suspend the sentence. The judge warned her: "You were a heartbeat away from going to prison today and I will not even have to think twice about locking you up if you breach this order."

McDonald is also required to complete 150 hours of unpaid work. Cox was granted conditional bail to reappear at the same court for sentencing on April 7.

Wilson also admitted guilt to a separate, unrelated charge of violating a restraining order.