A 14-YEAR-old girl was left with a four-and-a-half-inch wound after being slashed across the throat with a knife.

Blackburn magistrates heard the terrifying attack took place in Sunnyhurst woods in Darwen when the girl was confronted by 20-year-old Zoe Janine Cooper.

The girl thought the older woman was trying to hit her and the two struggled until Cooper said the girl should feel her neck.

"At the stage the girl put her hand to her neck and realised she was bleeding," said Eddie Harrison, prosecuting.

"She also realised that Cooper had hold of a small knife which she had used to cut her across the throat."

Cooper, of Birch Hall Avenue, Darwen, pleaded guilty to assaulting the girl causing her actual bodily harm. She was committed on bail for sentence at Preston Crown Court after the magistrates were told Cooper was still subject to the unexpired period of an 18-month youth offender institute sentence imposed by the Crown Court.

Mr Harrison said the girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was with a group of friends in Sunnyhurst Woods on the evening of June 17. Cooper was with a male and after making certain comments she approached the girl.

"She came face to face with her and then raised her fist as if she was going to hit the girl," said Mr Harrison.

"The girl took her by the wrist and tried to push her away as she raised her other fist."

Mr Harrison said it was during the struggle that the wound was inflicted. The girl needed a tetanus injection and a dressing on the cut.

"The wound was superficial but, bearing in mind the use of a knife and the position of the wound there was potential for far, far more serious consequences," he added.

Michael Blacklidge, defending, said Cooper and her friend had spent some time in the woods by the duck pond. They had placed some cans of beer in a plastic bag in the pond to keep cool and Cooper had gone to cut open the bag when there was an exchange of words.

"She accepts she was involved in a scuffle with this girl who she though was older that she was," said Mr Blacklidge.