A mum-of-three has escaped prison after a judge heard how red tape had threatened to postpone the burial of her baby son.

Stacey Waller, 25, admitted attacking a teenage girl who had had a fling with her husband, but walked free from court after the judge took into account her recent tragedy.

Leeds Crown Court heard the attack was a nasty and unpleasant offence during which Waller hit and kicked the 17-year-old girl while she was on the ground.

But her barrister, Robin Mairs, told yesterday how the funeral of her infant son, who died in August this year, had been put at risk because of difficulty in getting funding.

He told Geoffrey Marson, QC: "This defendant has suffered some of the worst slings and arrows that fortune could throw at her over the last few months."

Judge Marson told Waller, of Ferncliffe Road, Bingley: "I have come to the conclusion it is just possible to step back from sending you to prison today - but it's been a close thing.

"I am persuaded by the fact that you pleaded guilty, by the fact there is a background to this, by the fact you have had a very significant tragedy recently, and by the fact you have three young children to care for and you are motivated to change.

"I hope that's right, because if you don't, nothing will save you from prison."

He said one of the aggravating features was the 17-year-old appeared to have been deliberately lured to the city centre to be assaulted.

Judge Marson sentenced Waller, who pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to affray, to nine months imprisonment suspended for two years, with a two-year supervision requirement, and ordered her to do 100 hours' unpaid work in the community.

Prosecutor Ian Mullarkey told the court that during 2006 the teenage girl had a relationship with Waller's husband Kevin, 28.

Just after 11pm on June 22 this year the girl received a call from Mr Waller and they arranged to meet in Leeds city centre. After speaking with him for a few minutes, the defendant, who was pregnant, drove up and got out of her car and her husband got in.

Mr Mullarkey said Waller punched the girl in the face, grabbed her mobile phone and struck her on the back of the head with it. She fell to the floor, where the defendant hit and kicked her, before driving off.

Waller, who had previous convictions for assaults on police officers, obstructing police and attempted robbery, was arrested and told police the teenager had ruined her life because she had slept with her husband.

Mr Mairs admitted it was a nasty and unpleasant offence but said there was a considerable background which started some time ago when Waller became addicted to crack cocaine after being abused as a child.

He said she weaned herself off the drug while in custody and when she was released in 2005 she took steps to strengthen the relationship with her husband. But they separated after she suffered a miscarriage and her husband met the teenager.

Mr Mairs said Waller's relationship with her husband weathered the storms and she became pregnant again this year.

Last September, the Telegraph & Argus reported how the funeral of the Wallers' son Lee Kevin was only able to go ahead on the arranged date after their family rallied round to lend them the £1,200 it cost.