A woman beat up her employee after she refused to put prostitutes' cards in phone boxes.

Debbie Kneller, 32, kicked and punched Emma Scannell during an evening out in Brighton, a court heard The attack happened in The Steine, in July 1999, when Ms Scannell, who was sometimes employed by Kneller, refused to work, Lewes Crown Court heard.

Kneller, of New England Road, Brighton, was convicted by a jury of inflicting grievous bodily harm and affray in a trial last year.

Yesterday, at a hearing for sentencing, she narrowly escaped jail.

Michael Warren, prosecuting, said: "It appears a number of parties were connected with premises in New England Road.

"That premises had to do with sexual intercourse for payment, in other words prostitution.

"The victim, Emma Scannell, worked for the defendant partly distributing cards in telephone boxes. The defendant along with others was involved in running the premises.

"On July 16, Miss Scannell had declined to work and there seems to have been a row."

Mr Warren said various people had visited venues in Brighton.

He said: "The defendant ran into Miss Scannell in The Steine. Miss Scannell was set upon by Kneller and twice kicked down a stairwell and punched a number of times in the face.

"She sustained a fracture to her right cheekbone and needed stitches and suffered bruising."

Mr Warren described how Kneller then turned on a man accompanying Miss Scannell, saying, "This is the one we want to get now".

Richard Cherill, defending, said: "My client has spent three-and-a-half months in Holloway Prison.

"It is particularly hard for someone who hasn't regularly come before the courts.

"What one has got is a decent woman who is determined never again to get herself in a position where she would go back to Holloway."

Passing sentencing, Judge Charles Kemp said: "What you did to that young girl was perfectly disgraceful.

"You behaved in a violent and uncontrolled manner in the full public glare of a Brighton evening and there is too much of that going on these days.

"You have had the salient experience of knowing what it is like to go to prison for these sort of offences."

He sentenced Kneller to a total of 120 hours' community service and ordered her to pay £500 compensation to the victim.