TWO women who attacked two other women they thought had thrown nasty remarks in their direction, appeared at the Isle of Wight Magistrates' Court.

Amber Gagen, 23, of George Street, Ryde, and Maddy Allen-Willshire, 19, both admitted two counts of assault.

Liz Miller, prosecuting, said police were called to Sandown Esplanade on April 15, after two women were attacked on their way back to their hotel.

The attackers, both drunk, thought they had been subjected to insults about their appearance, and set upon the women, resulting in a scuffle on the ground.

One woman had her hair grabbed and was hit on the back of the head, while the other was punched to the ground, and had her hair pulled. The second woman fainted afterwards and had to be taken to hospital.

Oscar Vincent, representing Gagen and Allen-Willshire, said there had been a group laughing at them and making derogatory comments, and at first Allen-Willshire approached them to challenge them, before it turned physical.

Mr Vincent said since the attack, his clients had learnt the error of their ways and had since been attacked twice themselves but phoned police instead of retaliating. 

Gagen showed the court a stab wound she had suffered in the latest attack.

Sentencing was adjourned until November 18 as magistrates ordered pre-sentence probation reports.