A secretary who kicked a train passenger in the face with her stiletto heel after a "feet on seat" row escaped with a community punishment order yesterday.

A secretary who kicked a train passenger in the face with her stiletto heel after a "feet on seat" row escaped with a community punishment order yesterday.

Laura Cook, 29, was on her way home after a champagne reception when her boyfriend Nicholas Rogers, 31, launched a vicious attack on another traveller.

London's Southwark Crown Court heard CCTV footage showed Rogers throw Ian Garven to the floor at which point Cook lashed out with her foot.

The shocked commuter, who had only asked Rogers to take his feet off the seat, needed stitches for a large gash on his cheek.

Cook, a personal assistant to a company director, insisted she was simply trying to rescue her claims adjuster boyfriend.

He argued self-defence, but, like her, was unanimously convicted of one count of actual bodily harm on February 16 last year.

He received a similar sentence.

Passing sentence, Recorder Stephen Miller told Cook, of Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex, and Rogers from Enfield, Middlesex: "The injuries that Mr Garven sustained were not the most serious but it did involve a puncture wound to the left side of his face which left a permanent scar.

"He had other minor injuries as well.

"Everyone involved in this incident has confessed to having had something to drink that evening, but in each case it was probably an underestimate.

"The fact you had been drinking does nothing to excuse what you did. If anything it makes it worse.

"It is a sad fact that fights on public transport almost always occur late at night and involve people who have been drinking."

The recorder added although it was a "serious" case, what took place was "out of character" and could therefore be dealt with by community punishment orders.

He told them each would have to complete 80 hours' unpaid work, pay £200 compensation and £250 prosecution costs.