Three woman convicted of a brawl outside a cricket club were sentenced this afternoon, with one being jailed.

Chanel Smith, 26, received a 2½-year sentence for wounding 27-year-old Collisha Burch and having a bladed article in a public place.

Her co-accused, Dyshantee Crockwell and Vanessa Blyden, were both given periods of probation for their roles in the fight, which took place outside the Bailey’s Bay Cricket Club on November 9, 2013.

Acting Justice Charlene Scott said it was a “sad state of affairs” to see three young women with great potential before the courts for an incident that was out of character for all three.

“All of you have said you are sorry, you apologised to the court and your families,” Mrs Justice Scott said. “You accept you were a part of what happened but at the end of the day someone was seriously hurt.”

The Supreme Court had heard that on the evening of the attack, the three defendants had gone to the cricket club for a night out when they encountered Ms Burch.

After a period of time, the group decided to leave the club and got in their cars, but as they began to drive away, Ms Burch threw a cup of water at the car being driven by Crockwell.

An argument began between the defendants and another group of women, including Ms Burch and Dante Allen. The argument turned physical and a brawl ensued.

During the fight, it was alleged that Crockwell struck Ms Burch on the head with a bottle and Smith chopped her hand with a blade — although it was disputed as to whether the weapon used by Smith was a machete or a knife.

Blyden, meanwhile, struggled with Ms Allen, causing her minor injuries.

Ms Burch suffered head injuries and nerve damage to her right hand and still has no feeling in her index finger.

Crockwell was also injured: struck on the head with a bottle and kicked in the mouth with “hard-toed” shoes.

While Blyden pleaded guilty to a single count of causing actual bodily harm, both Smith and Crockwell were convicted by a majority verdict after a trial.

Speaking in court today, each of the women apologised for their actions, asking the court for leniency.

Fighting back tears, Smith told the court that she was struggling to provide for both a young son and an ailing mother, while Crockwell said that she never intended the incident to escalate the way it had.

Delivering her sentence, Mrs Justice Scott said the women should have continued to drive away from the club rather than stopping to confront Ms Burch, saying: “A rash decision can change your life.”

Noting the severity of the injuries suffered by Ms Burch, the judge sentenced Smith to 2½ years for both unlawful wounding and possessing a bladed article in a public place, ordering that both sentences run concurrently.

She subsequently sentenced Blyden to 18 months’ probation, noting her early guilty plea, while she sentenced Crockwell to one year of probation, citing her previous good character.

Mrs Justice Scott also ordered that Blyden and Crockwell enrol in any programmes recommended by Court Services and avoid all contact with the complainants.