A woman was dragged down steps by her hair and kicked in the head in a terrifying attack which left witnesses shocked.
Claire Connon, helped by Nicola Tams, launched a brutal attack on the woman over claims she owed her friend money.
CCTV showed Connon storm up steps outside a Changing Lives hostel in Westgate Road, Newcastle, and forcefully pull the woman down before kicking and hitting her.
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Tams also landed some less forceful kicks and prevented a man from intervening to help the victim.
Now the pair have been jailed for assault at Newcastle Crown Court.
Kevin Wardlaw, prosecuting, said it was around 4.30pm on August 2 last year when the attack happened.
He said: "The defendant Connon grabbed the complainant by her hair and pulled her down steps to the pavement and kicked the victim numerous times. The kicking was hard and she punched or slapped her.
"Tams kicked the victim several times but not as forcefully as Connon."
A support worker who saw the attack described it as vicious and said it left members of the public who saw it scared.
The victim, who was left with swelling and bruising to her face, did not cooperate with the prosecution.
Connon, 41, of Sackville Road, Heaton, Newcastle, who has 71 previous convictions and Tams, who has 177 previous convictions, both admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
Tams, 44, of Clara Street, Benwell, also admitted separate offences of theft, possessing a bladed article and refusing to provide a same for a drugs test as a result of being arrested in the city centre.
Connon was jailed for 13 months and Tams got nine months.
Judge Christopher Prince said the motive was Connon's friend saying the victim owed her money.
Stuart Graham, for Connon, said: "It's a horrible offence and a nasty assault.
"She had a terrible childhood and has an emotionally unstable personality disorder.
"She had come off the medication she is back on which contributed to it.
"She's exceedingly upset with herself and is wholly remorseful.
"She has put herself forward as a volunteer with the Samaritans."
Barry Robson, for Tams, said: "She's not really a woman of violence.
"She's a drug addict, it's a life lost to heroin. She's never worked and it's been a downhill path since her introduction to that drug."
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