A WOMAN hurled two glasses at an employee who intervened to stop her shouting homophobic abuse at a lesbian inside a Yate pub.

One of the glasses struck bar worker Jody Parsons at the hostelry in Yate, a Crown Court heard.

"Fortunately the victim only suffered bruising," said Rhiannon Sadler, prosecuting.

The trouble began when Naomi Harris, 26, started yelling insults at gay woman Stacey Pidluski at the White Lion Hotel, in Church Road, Yate, on May 31 last year (2011).

Ms Sadler told the Crown Court at Guildford, Surrey, that Harris approached care assistant Ms Pidluski and asked her: "Is it true what I've been told? Are you gay?"

The court heard that Ms Pidluski replied: "Yes, I am. Is it a problem?"

Ms Sadler said that Harris stormed: "It is a problem. It's disgusting. It's not right."

The prosecutor said that the defendant then grabbed Ms Pidluski's top, shouting: "It's disgusting. How could you do that?"

Ms Sadler said: "A bar worker had to intervene."

At this point, she said, Harris grabbed two glasses and threw them at the staff member, causing bruising.

Ms Sadler said that the defendant then went outside the hotel and picked up an object which she used to smash a window causing nearly £200 worth of damage.

Police were called and Harris was arrested.

"She refused to answer any questions," said Ms Sadler.

Harris, of Tyrwhitt Court, Guildford, pleaded guilty to using threatening, abusive and insulting behaviour; common assault and criminal damage.

The case was committed by Northavon Magistrates to Guildford Crown Court where Harris had been given a 16-week suspended prison sentence in October last year (2011) for making off without payment and false representation.

The Crown Court was told that Harris had a long list of previous convictions.

Ben Long, defending, said his client was being treated for mental health problems.

He said that the defendant had been advised to start reducing her medication but had stopped taking it altogether.

He said this had caused Harris to have behavioural problems.

Judge Christopher Critchlow told Harris: "I've had to consider whether to send you to prison."

But after hearing about her psychological difficulties, he imposed a four month curfew from 7m to 7am.

"But if you re-offend, it will have to be a prison sentence," added Judge Critchlow.

He also criticised the length of time the case had taken to reach his court.