A CARLISLE woman who launched a drink-fuelled attack on woman who was later found with "atrocious" injuries has been given a 20 month jail sentence.

But Rachel Louise Gent - who is not being blamed for the serious head injuries sustained by the victim - was today released immediately because she has already served more than 11 months in custody waiting for her case to be finalised, the city's crown court heard.

Gent, 37, admitted an assault causing actual bodily harm.

Her co-defendant, Graeme Anthony Thompson, 36, who has pleaded guilty to the more serious charge of causing the same woman grievous bodily harm with intent to do so, will be sentenced in October after a psychiatric assessment.

As the 38-year-old victim was recovering in hospital last year, police initially treated the attack as attempted murder.

Officers were called to her address on Botchergate, close its junction with South Street, after receiving a call, at 3.25pm on August 20, reporting an assault inside the property.

As he passed sentence today, Judge Nicholas Barker told Gent that her victim had suffered a "vicious assault," which rendered her unconscious and seriously injured.

"The prosecution don't hold you culpable and responsible for her atrocious injuries," said the judge. "They accept that you should be sentenced for the lesser charge of assault."

On the day of the attack, Gent had gone to the victim's home "angry and aggressive" because she believed the woman had spent a night with her former partner.

The judge told Gent: "There can be no doubt that you arrived at her home at least aggressive and at least intending to settle a score."

Gent - who was drunk at the time - accepted striking the woman four times and then leaving the flat - her clothes stained with the victim's blood - at a time when the victim was unconscious. 

The judge continued: "Although I don't hold you responsible - it's asserted that another now deceased female who caused that - you clearly had little or no concern for the welfare [of the victim] at this time."

The attack victim was vulnerable while Gent was intoxicated and no doubt under the influence of other substances, said the judge. Judith McCullough, for Gent, said she had repaid her debt to society.

Because convicted defendants generally serve half their sentence in jail and the rest on licence, Gent was immediately eligible for release.

The barrister pointed out that the defendant, who has no fixed addres, was about to be released from custody with no money, though she did have address she could go to.

At an earlier hearing, the judge directed that a charge being faced by a third defendant, 44-year-old Peter Doran, should lie on file after it a conclusion was reached that it was not in the public interest to pursue the case against him.

Court records show that Thompson's address was listed as Buchannan Road Carlisle, though previously it was recorded as Borrowdale Gardens, Carlisle.