BACKGROUND reports have been ordered into a 47-year-old woman who assaulted another woman in front of her children in a residential street in Newtown St Boswells.

CCTV footage played at Selkirk Sheriff Court showed Tracey Davies running up to the woman and punching her twice in the face while holding a set of keys before a struggle ensued between the two women.

The victim’s children could be heard screaming during the incident on the afternoon of August 22.

The victim suffered a four-inch laceration to the forehead which required five stitches.

Davies, who gave an address in Fife, pleaded guilty to a charge of assault to injury and permanent disfigurement.

Her lawyer said there was a background between the women and goading had been involved prior to the incident.

Sheriff Peter Paterson told Davies: “Whatever the underlying situation may be, you will appreciate that the court has to take a dim view of this.”

He deferred sentence until February 5 for the production of a criminal justice social work report to “see what sentencing options were available”.