THREE 20p sachets of tomato ketchup cost a claims advisor £675 and left her with a suspended prison sentence - after she admitted battering a Barry Island chip shop owner.

Mum-of-two Marcia Anne Cowell, of Cardiff, was given a ten week prison sentence - suspended for a year - and ordered to pay £500 prosecution costs, after she admitted headbutting Craig O'Shea twice, punching him once and threatening to shove assistant Jessica Turner into the cafe's deep fat fryer.

The incident happened on June 14 last year, after she had been asked to pay 60p for tomato sauce at O’Shea’s cafe. Cardiff & Vale magistrates also ordered the pregnant 29-year-old to pay Mr O'Shea £150 compensation for the injuries he sustained to his nose and ear, and £25 to replace the t-shirt he was wearing at the time of the assault, which she ripped.

The court heard last Thursday (January 26) how Cowell, of Adamscroft Place, her husband, their baby daughter and her mother-in-law had visited the Island in June last year, and that the defendant had bought three bags of chips from O'Shea's before 1.30pm.

She returned to the shop to get some tomato ketchup, but staff member Jessica Turner told her there was a charge of 60p for the three sachets.

Prosecutor Sian Phillips told the court: "She said ‘I'm not paying for the ******* sauce. I waited 20 minutes for the food. You don't know what the **** you are doing’.

"Ms Turner explained she had worked there for six years and did know what she was doing, but the defendant said ‘I'll come round there and put your ******* head in the fryer’."

Concerned for her safety, Ms Turner texted her boss who arrived at the shop and spoke to Cowell.

Ms Phillips said: "He told her ‘I'm not going to hit you because you are a woman’.

"The defendant replied ‘I've eaten and **** things like you’."

The court heard Cowell told Mr O’Shea that his assistant had sworn at her, and she then threatened Ms Turner ‘if she was ever out in Barry’.

Mr O’Shea stood in her way, believing his assistant’s safety was at risk, but Cowell moved towards the shop and said: "I will kill her, I will now."

Ms Phillips added: "The defendant moved her head forwards twice in quick succession in a head butting motion, and there was contact twice.

"She pushed him to the side and he took a knock on the cheekbone, and she told him she ‘ate guys like him for breakfast’."

She then ripped his chain and shirt, the court heard, before police arrived, arrested her, and took her to Barry police station.

Defending Cowell, David Thomas said what happened that day was out of character.

He said: "It may have been the hormones that affected her. Her baby was seven months old.

"I don't think she can explain what happened.

"It's been a salutory lesson coming to court. She's been humiliated."

In sentencing, Bench Chairwoman Carol Gage told Cowell, who was previously of good character, that the incident had passed the custody threshold.

"This was a really very nasty incident," she said.

"It was in a public place, it was a busy day, and in front of children and other people.

"We have given you an opportunity. Please take it. The future is in your hands."

Following the hearing, 40-year-old Craig O'Shea - who has owned his Island business for 18 years - said he would like to thank Barry police for their quick response on the day, and PC Nick Williams and fellow traders for their support since.

"I was happy with the verdict," he said.

"It was the first time something has happened and hopefully it will never happen again."

He has pledged to donate his £150 injury compensation to Ty Hafan children's hospice.