A PRACTICAL joke led to a drunk woman destroying pottery from a neighbours caravan, a court heard.

Paula Fallows, 37, of Turnpike, Pembridge, Leominster pleaded guilty to stealing pottery to the value of £1,000 at Turnpike Caravan Park.

Fallows smashed ornaments, plates and cups belonging to a neighbour following a practical joke which involved superglue being put on her caravan's toilet seat.

Lesley Ashton, prosecuting at Hereford Magistrates Court on Thursday said that Fallows was seen by a witness making her way over to her neighbours caravan while shouting and swearing.

"There was a lot of smashing coming from near to the caravan," said Ms Ashton.

"Mr Lock who owns the caravan was alerted that something was happened and came back to find Fallows carrying plates and cups towards the parking area.

"Fallows then threw them to the ground."

Police were called and Mr Locke told them that a number of items had been broken or damaged which held sentimental value to him and were valued at £1,000.

In his statement Mr Lock said he went over to Fallows to try and recover his property when she was carrying two of his ornamental horses.

Mr Locke said: "She said to me 'if you want them back have them back before throwing them onto the ground causing them to break'.

Other items taken included cups, plates, a China kettle and urn.

On interview Fallows said she had been drinking and couldn't remember the night in question.

"She took the two horses to get back at Mr Lock for a joke which involved her toilet seat being superglued and decided to do this as an act of revenge which got out of hand," said Ms Ashton.

"In this community items of pottery have got a sentimental value."

Philip Cornell, mitigating, said that Fallows has a drink problem which resulted in the offence.

"There was no planning and these things happen when everybody is living together," said Mr Cornell.

"Fallows and her partner have repaid £500 to the Locke family.

"They are all related and there doesn't appear to be any ill feeling. She has been evicted from the site and has been living in a tent in a field ever since."

A probation report stated that Fallows was 'heavily drunk' at the time of the incident after consuming a bottle of vodka.

The report stated that her drinking was getting 'out of hand' and that she drunk a bottle of vodka and a bottle of cider every day.

Magistrates ordered Fallows to complete a 12 month community order with six months of alcohol treatment and 15 days of rehabilitation activity requirement.

She was also ordered to pay £135 costs and an £85 victim surcharge.