AN 81-year-old Ellesmere Port woman who breached her criminal behaviour order for the third time has received a 12-month community order.

Maureen Walsh, of William Johnson Gardens, had a clean criminal record until her 70s, when she turned to alcohol following the breakdown of a relationship, Chester Magistrates Court heard on Monday, October 22.

Prosecutor Adam Warner said since then she had accumulated 16 convictions for 30 offences, including being drunk and disorderly, harassment, assault, breach of restraining order and one for religiously aggravated abuse.

Walsh was handed an indefinite criminal behaviour order (CBO) on December 16, 2016 which prohibited her from being drunk in public, not to enter a pub or off-licence and not to use intimidating language or behaviour.

She breached the CBO three days later and was sentenced to four weeks in prison, then breached it a second time in January 2017 and was jailed for another four weeks.

However, Walsh then adhered to the order for 20 months, until spotted drunk by a police officer in The Mill at Upton pub on October 5 this year.

When interviewed, she admitted being in the pub but denied being drunk, saying she had only had one drink at another pub that evening, but submitted guilty pleas to both charges.

Derek MacDonald, defending, referred to a GP's letter where the GP said Walsh was "a very pleasant woman who has survived many difficulties in her life."

She had been moving from hostel to hostel but was now living in supported accommodation.

As the case adjourned so Walsh could meet a probation officer to discuss an alternative to custody, Deputy District Judge Andrew Jebb said: "If there is some way to constructively keep an 81-year-old out of prison then so be it."

After the adjournment, a report from probation heard Walsh had a cyst in her left ear which meant she felt intoxicated from just one drink and she did not remember much surrounding the offence.

She was willing to address alcohol issues.

Sentencing Walsh, Deputy District Judge Jebb said: "You have engaged with the health services about your health difficulties so it's now the time to try and do something more positive."

Walsh added: "I agree."

Walsh was sentenced to the 12-month community order with 20 days of a rehabilitation activity requirement.

She was also fined £100 with £85 court costs and an £85 victim surcharge.

Following the sentencing, the Joseph Holt pub chain, which runs The Mill @ Upton, has contacted The Standard to make it clear it did not serve Walsh any alcohol on the night of the offence, although she was in the pub.

In a statement, the pub chain said: "The lady entered the premises and was cold and wet, stating that she had been 'thrown off' the hospital grounds for no reason.

"As the lady was clearly distressed she was given a coffee to warm up. At no point did staff serve or offer to serve her alcohol but instead asked if they could help by calling her a taxi, as it was close to last orders and as she was elderly did not want to send her on to the streets.

"The lady herself asked for staff to call the police at which point the local authorities were contacted and description of the lady given. We were advised an officer would attend in due course and upon arrival the officer asked if he could speak with her alone outside to which she replied no, at which point the officer proceeded to issue the lady with an arrest for breach of CBO. The officer escorted the lady off the premises and into a vehicle.

"Due to her age and distressed nature staff at the Mill were kind-hearted and professional in their handling of this lady."