AN £850-a-night escort mum who smashed her newborn baby’s skull in rage has been awarded compensation.

Law student Elizabeth Wilkins, 23, was attacked during her trial on charges of child cruelty.

She hit her young son's head against a hard surface so hard he may have developmental problems growing up.

Wilkins, a student at the University of Plymouth at the time, was found guilty of grievous bodily harm with intent and assault causing actual bodily harm.

She was attacked outside Plymouth Crown Court during a lunch break as she gave evidence.

A judge called the assault “outrageous”, but Wilkins carried on from the witness stand after lunch with no visible injury, reports Plymouth Live.

Claire Moore, aged 33, was dragged before city magistrates where she admitted assaulting Wilkins by beating – the lowest type of assault.

Moore, of Greenbank, was fined £40, ordered to pay £30 victim surcharge and £50 compensation to Wilkins.

The exact nature of the assault is not known but Plymouth Live understands the former University of Plymouth student was verbally abused and then manhandled in September 21.

Trial Judge Peter Johnson told the jury shortly after the attack in the third week of the trial: “I am aware that at least one of you saw an incident at lunchtime, an appalling assault on Elizabeth Wilkins.

“I think all of you are now aware of this outrageous act committed I think by a woman in drink against someone in the middle of their evidence.”

He commended her barrister Piers Norsworthy for stepping in to help his client outside the court – an area popular with street-drinkers.

Wilkins had attacked her son several times before blaming his father when she was alone in the flat for just 90 minutes with the boy in 2016.

The extent of the horrific injuries were only revealed after she and her partner, Erick Vanselow, took the baby to the GP - who immediately phoned an ambulance.

Her son was found to have suffered a fractured skull, bleeding on the brain and broken ribs.

During the trial the court heard the mum advertised herself as "very sexually adventurous" and shared suggestive photographs of herself selling sexual services online from between £95 to £850.

During the trial Barrister Michael Haynes, for Vaneslow, asked Det Con Dave Cross about a website examined by police during the investigation, saying the pictures shared were "soft porn".

Mr Haynes read from the site: "I am open to most ideas and very sexually adventurous, please do not hesitate to contact me."

The site also included reviews from men who had visited the mother, who was in her last year of a law degree.

Prosecutor Jo Martin QC said the baby was assaulted by either mum, dad or both parents on several occasions two years ago at the couple's former home in Plymouth.

The jury acquitted Mr Vanselow of a single count of failing to protect his son from his birth in July 2016 until he suffered the head injuries on September 22, 2016.

The boy, who may have life-changing injuries, cannot be named by court order.

Despite a nurse warning that the procedure would be "distressing to watch", she told the court: "Her reply was that she watched Holby and 24 Hours in A&E, which was a little bit of a strange thing to say."

Wilkins stood with her eyes closed and head bowed as she was found guilty.

Judge Peter Johnson told her: “Just because I am granting you bail it should not be taken by you as any indication of sentence. This is a very serious case and the inevitable sentence will be a prison sentence measured in years.”

She is due to be sentenced on December 6.