A WOMAN who arranged for two men to beat up her former partner has been spared jail.

Bolton Crown Court heard how 30-year-old Natalie Smith had split from John Walmsley after 10 years together.

The couple's two children went to live with their father, but Smith became unhappy about the arrangements for her contact with them.

Colin Buckle, prosecuting, told the court how Mr Walmsley agreed to meet Smith at a car park in Halliwell on February 21.

But immediately after the meeting two men appeared from behind a portable building and hurled a brick at him.

Mr Walmsley tried to run away but they punched and kicked him to the ground before he finally managed to escape.

He was left with a bruised face and back.

When questioned by police, Smith said Mr Walmsley could have been attacked by others because she claimed he was in debt.

But police found evidence linking her to the crime when they checked her mobile phone.

Even though the SIM card had been removed, the phone's history showed Smith had made 12 calls to a man in the hours prior to the assault.

Smith, of Siemens Street, Horwich, initially denied causing Mr Walmsley actual bodily harm by aiding and abetting others, but changed her plea to guilty on the day of her trial.

Sentencing Smith to 28 weeks in jail, suspended for 12 months, Recorder Michael Blakey told her she would have been imprisoned immediately if Mr Walmsley's injuries have been more severe.

"You encouraged that beating. There was an element of retribution in what you did," said Mr Blakey.

"However, I accept you did not know the extent of that beating and that weapons would be used."

Smith was ordered to do 40 hours unpaid work and must pay a £100 victim surcharge.