A WOMAN suffered three broken teeth when she was punched by a stranger, a court heard.

Samantha Scivetti said trouble erupted after she saw a young girl pick up a rock from the front garden of her home in Pevensey Close, Pitsea.

Miss Scivetti admitted she shouted at the girl to leave it, but moments later she claims Maria Le-Beau called at her home and hurled abuse at her before punching her in the side of the face.

The alleged victim told the jury at Basildon Crown Court: "I told her not to point at me and not to shout at me and then she hit me in the face.

"She hit me hard.

"My face went to the side. I did not feel pain at the time. I felt shocked and a bit disorientated."

Miss Scivetti said Le-Beau, whom she had never seen before, continued to shout insults at her and only left after a young man appeared and dragged her away.

Richard Livingstone, prosecuting, said when Le-Beau, 34, was initially arrested and questioned she insisted she never had an argument with the alleged victim.

She continued to deny any involvement in the alleged incident on April 26 last year, even after Miss Scivetti picked her out at a police identity procession. Le-Beau, of Elm Green, Basildon denies assaulting Miss Scivetti.

The trial continues.