A WOMAN helped to beat up a love rival nearly 20 years her junior, a court heard.

Dawn Walton, aged 39, of Greenheys Road, Little Hulton, was furious when her partner dumped her and began a relationship with 20-year-old Rosie Whitehead.

Along with her ex-partner’s mum Diane Kabito, aged 54, of Oakfield Drive, Little Hulton, they went round to see his new love and gave her a savage beating.

After getting into Miss Whitehead’s home they both punched her in the face.They then stamped on her head and body prosecutor Subhanur Chowdhury told Manchester City Magistrates’ Court.

District Judge Jonathon Finestein spared sending the pair immediately to jail and told them: “Your defence was a tissue of lies from start to finish”.

Kabito and Walton were convicted after trial whre they wer accused of assaulting Miss Whitehead last October.

They were sentenced to six months imprisonment suspended for two years and given a five year restraining order banning them from contacting the victim.

The judge ordered them to each pay £500 compensation to Miss Whitehead saying: “It is nowhere near enough but it’s all you can pay”.

Mr Chowdhury said Miss Whitehead suffered severe bruising and swelling to her face and body.

At one stage Kabito picked up an iron and wanted to know if it was hot, the court was told.

But the judge said he was satisfied that the iron was not used as a weapon.

During the trial the women alleged that Miss Whitehead had attacked them first — a claim totally rejected by the judge.

Passing sentence Judge Finestein said: “This was a nasty and sustained attack”.

Walton who has a six month old baby, and Kabito, who has health problems, will have to attend a women’s specified activity programme.