A PENSIONER got drunk on a night out in Chester with her granddaughter and kicked a police officer, a court heard.

Vivian Blain, 65, of Churton Road, Boughton, was handed a community order after she pleaded guilty to being drunk and disorderly and to assaulting PC Martin Sinclair on April 15 this year.

Slumped in the doorway of a taxi office at 2.15am, she had refused to comply with officers who asked her numerous times to move on.

Chester Magistrates Court heard that she then became increasingly “belligerent” until officers decided “enough was enough” and attempted to hand-cuff her.

At this point she resisted, was taken to the ground and lashed out at PC Sinclair with her foot, catching him on the leg.

During her police interview she accepted what had happened after being shown CCTV footage, although she said she could remember very little.

The court heard she has one previous conviction for assault from September 1 last year when she was given a conditional discharge and made the subject of a restraining order.

Richard Simm, defending, stressed she had pleaded guilty at the first opportunity, adding: “It’s sad to see someone who reaches her sixties and has not been in trouble before start coming before the courts. I suspect it is indicative of more complex problems.”

He said his client had come under serious stress and pressure as she was providing end-of-life care for her husband who has cancer.

She would sometimes have a drink to relieve the stress and on the night of the incident had too much while out in Chester with her granddaughter, who is in her twenties.

“She lashed out heavily under the influence of drink,” Mr Simm told the court. “If she had been stone-cold sober she wouldn’t have acted in this way.

“She is extremely embarrassed and extremely remorseful.”

Blain was sentenced to a 12-month community order to include a 20-day rehabilitation activity requirement and a fine of £50.

She must also pay PC Sinclair £50 in compensation, as well as £85 court costs and an £85 victim surcharge.

Chair of the magistrates’ bench Andrew Merrill told her: “We appreciate the increasing pressure on yourself but your behaviour on that night is not as it should be and is not a good example to set your granddaughter.”