A homeless woman who threw a shard of glass at a gang of attackers but missed and hit a baby begged to be sent to prison today.

During the incident in August Amy Baker brandished a fork at the injured child's mother after she was chased along Week Street in Maidstone.

The 28-year-old, who admitted causing actual bodily harm and possessing a sharp object in public, appeared at Maidstone Magistrates' Court today for sentencing.

The court heard how she was set upon by up to five people between Tesco Express and the old amusement arcade.

A bottle was dropped from a window by an unknown person and smashed in front of her.

Mother-of-two Baker picked up a large shard of glass and waved it at the group to get them to leave her alone, before hurling it at them.

But the missile smashed on a bystander's pram, showering 11-month-old Niko Maggs with fragments.

His mother, Shannon Maggs, chased Baker who turned around and waved a police evidence tube containing a two-pronged fork in her face.

Russell Morling, defending, said Baker reacted in the heat of the moment to a genuine threat, adding she was under the impression the woman chasing her was one of her attackers.

Baker begged the magistrates to send her to prison during today's hearing. "I would never hurt a baby I promise I never would I'm sorry. I would try a drug scheme but I know I'll breach it I know it. I want to go to prison please, I just want to get clean," she said.

Mr Morling said a prison term would be the quickest way for Baker - who the court heard has used crack, heroin and spice on a daily basis since the age of 14 - to get clean but would only be a short term solution.

The bench decided against custody and instead handed Baker, of no fixed address, a community order for 12 months with a rehabilitation requirement of 40 days.

She must also attend a drug rehabilitation programme for six months.

Magistrates also ordered her to pay £50 compensation, £50 costs and £180 criminal courts charge.

Watch: Today's news on KMTV