Sharon Osbourne accused Renee Tab of gatecrashing her party

Osbourne, wife of rock star Ozzy, accused Renee Tab of attacking her in a Los Angeles restaurant, even going on a television to show off her bruised chin.

But Ms Tab says Osbourne assaulted her by spitting at her and has been "terrorising and harassing" her for three months following an incident at a party.

"It is Mrs Osbourne who viciously, verbally and physically attacked and spat upon Renee Tab and her sister," said a statement issued by her lawyer.

The statement also threatened legal action over "defamatory" statements made by Osbourne.

Both parties have filed battery charges against each other, and the Los Angeles City Attorney's Office is considering whether to press charges.

Gatecrash

The two women first fell out following a New Year's Eve party thrown by the Osbourne family after Ms Tab, who works for the International Creative Management agency, won a $15,000 (�9,500) diamond necklace in a raffle.

Sharon Osbourne demanded Ms Tab return the prize, accusing her of winning it unfairly because she had gatecrashed the party.

Ms Tab said she was the guest of a friend of Ozzy and Sharon's son Jack.

Sharon Osbourne appeared this week on the TV show Celebrity Justice, displaying a bruised chin.

"I honestly thought my jaw was broken ... I've got a bruise on my chin. It hurts. My ears hurt. My neck hurts. My teeth have to be redone," she said.

She said she was "viciously assaulted" and had to be treated in hospital.