A former Playboy Model of the Year walked free from court today after being given a suspended sentence for attacking a woman in a nightclub toilet cubicle in a jealous row over her husband.

Louise Glover, 27, struck Maxine Hardcastle's head against a toilet rim up to 10 times and tried to push her head down the lavatory during a night out in Brighton.

She was found guilty of assault occasioning actual bodily harm following a trial at Hove Crown Court in December last year and returned to the court today, where a judge shouted at her to "shut up and listen" after she repeatedly called out from the dock.

Miss Hardcastle - the daughter of 1980s musician Paul Hardcastle - was left covered in blood and suffered hair loss, facial bruising and scratches to her arms and legs in what Judge Charles Kemp described as a "vicious and unprovoked attack".

It was motivated by an "irrational surge of jealousy", but more worrying, he said, was the "complete absence of any sign of remorse" from Glover.

Glover, dressed in a white coat and black miniskirt with black knee-high boots, called out from the dock several times during the hearing, which was delayed due to her late arrival.

When prosecutor Andrew Judge told the court she had a previous conviction for assaulting a police constable in 2001, she shouted: "No I didn't."

Glover could also be heard murmuring when he said she had received a caution for assault occasioning actual bodily harm following an incident in London's Pacha nightclub in 2005.

The judge warned her she would be taken down to the cells if she refused to be quiet in scenes similar to when she was found guilty and launched an angry tirade at him.

Handing her a 30-week prison sentence to be suspended for two years, Judge Kemp said the attack has continued to have an emotional and psychological impact on Miss Hardcastle, and she remains unable to enjoy nights out as she did before.

He also referred to her self-consciousness as a result of her hair having been pulled out by Glover, and told her she of all people should understand what it is "to be robbed of those attributes".

"You, Miss Glover, are a woman who has made a living based on your appearance, your self-confidence and your outgoing nature," he said.

During the trial, jurors heard how the St Helens-born pin-up, who has made semi-naked appearances in magazines and newspapers, turned on Miss Hardcastle, telling her and friend Nancy Stillwell: "I know what you Essex girls are like."

Miss Hardcastle and Miss Stillwell had been invited by Glover to a personal appearance she was making at a sports bar on December 15 2007.

Their 10-strong party moved on in the early hours of the following morning to the Oceana nightclub where Miss Hardcastle and Miss Stillwell went into the same toilet cubicle together.

Glover was heard outside and was let in by the other two women, but became agitated and accused them of looking at her husband, from whom she is now estranged.

While all three women were inside the cubicle, Glover - who was dressed in a pink Santa outfit - spilt an alcopop drink down Miss Stillwell's dress.

She left to dry her dress on a hand-dryer, leaving Glover and Miss Hardcastle alone inside.

But the court heard Glover quickly turned angry again, prompting Miss Hardcastle to try to placate her by telling her they would talk matters over when she was sober.

Miss Hardcastle broke down at points during her evidence as she said the trigger for the attack came after she told Glover: "This is all messed up."

At that point, she said Glover lifted up her arm and forcefully brought it down on her nose, causing her to hit her head on the back of the cubicle.

Miss Hardcastle said she "pleaded" with Glover to stop but she continued her attack.

Holding her by her neck, Glover repeatedly hit her head against the rim of the lavatory and afterwards tried to force her head down the toilet bowl.

The attack stopped after Glover's husband was heard outside the cubicle, telling her to calm down. But Glover replied: "Tell her to get off me first."

Glover told the court she acted in self-defence after Miss Hardcastle became emotional about apparent family problems and gripped her arms tightly.

She claimed Miss Hardcastle became "hysterical" after accusing her of not listening to her problems and claimed the further injuries she sustained were as a result of the cubicle door being kicked in.

Quentin Hunt, defending Glover, said during mitigation that the attack had not been pre-meditated and it remained "a mystery" how the incident had descended into such violence.

Alluding to Glover's "difficult" past, he said there were "very troubling aspects in her background that go some way to explaining why she has what is an extremely short fuse".

Mr Hunt said Glover, whose last UK address was Audley Gardens, Loughton, Essex, had recently attempted to establish herself as a model in the US, but this would not now be possible due to her criminal record.

"She has been abandoned by several commercial sponsors who were interested in working with her, including the Playboy brand," he said, adding that her career was now "in tatters".

In the dock, Glover looked down at her feet as she said: "My career is over now."

Judge Kemp said he would make no order for compensation or costs, but also sentenced her to carry out 180 hours of unpaid work in the community and ordered her to have no contact with Miss Hardcastle for the next 10 years.