A WOMAN called her neighbour fat and punched her in the jaw before allegedly getting rid of CCTV footage which may have shown the incident.

Rebecca Wroe attacked Amy Gallagher as the victim sunbathed on June 18. Wroe believed Miss Gallagher had made malicious reports about her to social services, a court heard.

After police arrested the defendant, she claimed they had raped her and repeatedly banged her head on the door of their van before shouting: "You're assaulting me."

Wroe, 32, denied assault by beating and using threatening or abusive words or behaviour likely to cause harassment alarm or distress.

She was convicted following a trial at Poole Magistrates' Court.

Miss Gallagher told the court Wroe was "screaming" and behaving in a "very aggressive, very agitated" manner before the assault.

"She was highly intoxicated," Miss Gallagher said.

"I was very anxious. I was scared."

Wroe's shouts drew the attention of a neighbour, Denise Hayward, who came outside to help Miss Gallagher.

Wroe then called both women "fat" and said they were "size 20".

Miss Gallagher, who had risen to gather her belongings and was walking towards her home in Hardy Crescent, Wimborne, turned back to Wroe and said: "I'm a size 16 and proud."

The defendant then pushed Miss Gallagher in the chest with both hands and punched her in the jaw.

The victim said Wroe was holding two lighters in her hand, which scratched her jawline, causing a small cut.

Wroe then went to a CCTV camera positioned outside of her flat by the housing authority and removed a memory card, which she then allegedly refused to give to police.

After Miss Gallagher returned to her flat and police had arrived, it was said that Wroe walked up to the victim's kitchen window and shouted: "Fat ****.

A statement written by the arresting officer was read aloud to the court.

The officer said Wroe was warned to mind her head on the police van after her arrest but then began purposefully banging her head against the vehicle. She wouldn't co-operate with police and claimed she had been raped by the officers, it was heard.

Wroe, a healthcare assistant who also looks after a woman with lung cancer on a voluntary basis, denied touching Miss Gallagher at any point, and said she speaks loudly because her daughter wears a hearing aid.

She also claimed she offered police the chance to see the CCTV footage.

Magistrates sentenced Wroe to a 12-month conditional discharge and ordered her to pay £75 in compensation to Miss Gallagher, £200 costs and a £20 victim surcharge. The defendant was also issued with a two-year restraining order to protect the victim.