Woman swore at police officers offering her a lift home

Samantha Jane Williams, 30, of Red Norman Rise, Holmer, Hereford, pleaded guilty to being drunk and disorderly.

Adrian Jones, prosecuting at Hereford Magistrates Court on Thursday said that police were called to St Peter's Close in Moreton-on-Lugg on December 23.

"Police attended at 2pm in the afternoon to a domestic incident and on their arrival they encountered the defendant in the road," said Mr Jones.

"Their intention was to have a word with her and offer her a lift home. She was very intoxicated and drunk.

"She put her middle finger up to police and swore at them. Police advised her that if she continued she would be arrested and that they were there to help her.

"They reminded her to stop swearing in a public place. She was agitated and calm one minute but swearing the next.

"Eventually police arrested her for being drunk and disorderly."

Emma Prosser, mitigating, said the police had been called following an argument between Williams and her grandparents.

"Words were exchanged and she left the property very upset," said Miss Prosser.

"Her grandparents have two dogs which they are unable to walk so she walks them on a daily basis. She gets the bus to their house walks the dogs for two hours and then gets the bus home.

"She makes a huge effort to assist her grandparents and they are very grateful. When the argument broke out she became upset, alcohol was in her system and she felt very emotional.

"She simply wanted to go home and didn't want assistance from the police. She saw them as a hindrance to her.

"She is apologetic and suffers from an emotionally unstable personality disorder."

Chair of the Magistrates Lavinia Sole sentenced Williams to a 12 months conditional discharge.

"We have heard your apology but you created a disturbance in a residential area which is not acceptable at 2pm when children are around," said Mrs Sole.

Williams was also ordered to pay £135 costs and a £20 victim surcharge.