A MOTHER from Swindon has appeared in court after being drunk in the town centre while looking after her five-year-old daughter.

The woman, who cannot be identified due to a court order protecting the child's identity, pleaded guilty to the charge at Swindon Magistrates' Court and was visibly upset and nervous throughout her time in the dock on Wednesday.

Prosecutor Pauline Lambert described the scene police witnessed when they were called to Bridge Street on July 24.

Ms Lambert said: “She was found lying on the floor near the back of the Sir Daniel Arms with her child.

“Her partner arrived and tried to get between her and the paramedics until police pulled him away.

“He was also drunk and had scratches on his face.

“Her eyes were glazed and her speech was slurred, she said she had been attacked while waiting at the bus stop and had had an argument with her partner.”

She apparently drank two pints of Fosters lager and two shots of liqueur in a pub before going shopping and having a few more pints in The Locomotive, then went to the bus stop where she was allegedly assaulted.

Ms Lambert added: “The five-year-old witnessed an assault and an argument, the two people looking after her were both very drunk.

“She said on a scale of one to 10 she was a nine and the intoxication hit her when she went outside into the fresh air.”

The first-time offender’s defence solicitor, Esther Bisgrove, said: “Other than this unfortunate incident, she has been a loving and responsible parent to her daughter.

“She has learned some very salutary lessons from being in a police station for the first time.

“Her child was taken into foster care while she was in custody and that was enough to cause distress for her, she’s scared that her child will be taken away from her.

“She was at pains to point out that it was unusual for her to consume alcohol while caring for her daughter.

“Social services had no concerns and they recognise that she is a good parent.”

A sentence of one month in prison and a level two fine plus £85 costs was suggested to the magistrates.

Chairman of the bench Christine Smith said: “It was a sad evening and it’s a sad state of affairs.

“We will step out of our usual guidelines and give you a conditional discharge for 12 months, you will not be punished today.”

If the mother carries out another offence during the next year, she will be punished for that offence and for this first offence.

She was also ordered to pay £85 in costs and £20 to victims’ services.