A WOMAN with a pot on her ankle and using a crutch kicked out at a policeman after she was arrested while drinking with friends, magistrates were told.

CarolMary O'Connor's plan to cheer herself up during a day out with friends in Darlington town centre backfired after she became abusive to a taxi driver.

Blair Martin, prosecuting, told Darlington Magistrates' Court O'Connor was about to go home on September 7 when she shouted obscenities at the driver. When the police arrived, she was arrested, but she kicked a policeman as she was being escorted into a van.

O'Connor had previously denied an allegation of drunk and disorderly and assaulting a police officer, but changed her plea to guilty two days before her trial.

John Clish, in mitigation, said O'Connor had gone out with friends to "cheer herself up" because of her serious leg injury. She felt embarrassed because she had hobbled to the van in front of people in the town centre.

She was given two £50 fines, ordered to pay £35 compensation to the police officer, £80 costs and a £15 victim support surcharge