A woman was yesterday jailed for 18 months suspended for three years after a court found her guilty of seriously injuring her neighbour when she smashed her teeth with a bunch of keys.

The court, presided over by magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera, heard how the incident took place between Mary Farrugia, 45, from Birkirkara, and her neighbour Denise Camilleri.

The court heard how the two women argued over cigarette buds being thrown on Ms Camilleri’s property. The incident took place on 7 February 2006 when Farrugia threw cigarette butts in Ms Camilleri’s yard. The latter drew her attention and Farrugia went down to her flat, damaged the front door and punched her with a set of keys in her hand.

As a result, Ms Camilleri suffered serious injuries to her face and had to have her front teeth removed.

Handing down her judgement, magistrate Scerri Herrera said that the evidence produced in court shows that Farrugia attacked Ms Camilleri “ferociously” and added that this was not acceptable in a democratic society.

The magistrate therefore jailed Farrugia for 18 months suspended for three years and placed her on a supervision order for three years.