Mum attacked policemen

The woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was 'rude and abusive' to staff at Pizza Express and refused to leave the premises despite several requests to do so.

The 28-year-old began insulting workers before kicking and punching police officers who arrived at the High Street eatery, during the evening on December 7.

Lewes magistrates this week heard how the woman, who was in the restaurant with her two young daughters, had drunk a bottle of wine during the course of the evening.

Prosecuter Richard Stevenson told the court that the woman became 'rude and abusive' to staff when they asked her to leave and refused even when the restaurant shut.

She 'took a swing' at one of the two constables who attended at just before midnight. PC Stevens was punched in the face below his right eye, while a second officer, PC Grayson, was kicked and struck on the chin.

'She was arrested but continued to swear at officers,' said Mr Stevenson. 'She was restrained on the ground but continued to resist and more officers arrived.

'Her daughters were visibly affected. They were crying hysterically.'

Defending, Matthew Nickolls said the woman's actions were 'mainly fuelled by the consumption of alcohol' but also from pressures caused in her personal life. 'She is a victim of domestic violence and had been on her own for seven months,' he said.

'She is terribly upset and has shown deep remorse. She is deeply ashamed by her actions, which were quite out of character. She knows she has let her children down.'

The defendant pleaded guilty to being drunk in a public place while having charge of a child under seven years and to two counts of assaulting a police officer. She was sentenced to 120 hours of a community punishment order and received a three months exclusion order from Pizza Express.

She was ordered to pay 50 compensation to PC Grayson and 25 compensation to PC Stevens, plus 25 costs.