Meerkat handler ordered to pay £800 to monkey expert after London Zoo Christmas party brawl over llama keeper

A meerkat expert who glassed a monkey handler at a Christmas party in a row over a llama keeper has been ordered to pay £800 in compensation.

Caroline Westlake was found guilty of assaulting Kate Sanders at the party at London Zoo over Adam Davies, who had dated both women.

The 30-year-old smashed Miss Sanders in the face with a wine glass after overhearing her insulting her looks earlier in the evening.

Earlier in the night on December 8 last year, she heard Miss Sanders telling friends in the toilets: "Have you seen the state of her?"

Prosecutor Daniel Geller said: "Miss Westlake hit Miss Sanders on the side of her face, she was holding a wine glass in her hand and it's the glass which made contact with Miss Sanders's face.

"The glass appears to have broken on contact because it caused a cut to Miss Sanders's face, a cut which was bleeding.

"Obviously very surprised by this Miss Sanders stretched her arms out in defence, pushing Miss Westlake back by her neck."

Miss Sanders required hospital treatment and stitches after the attack, which the judge described as "nasty".

Westlake, of Banstead, Surrey, wept in the dock as she was sentenced to a 12-month community order and ordered to pay Miss Saunders £800 compensation at Westminster Magistrates' Court.