A YOUNG woman who desperately tried to stop a drink driver from driving away with a baby in the car has been commended by a crown court judge.

Karen Wright, 22, was at her home at Ruabon, when she heard a bang outside and realised ex-soldier Kenneth Robert Jones had struck her former boyfriend's car outside.

He went to a nearby house and Miss Wright went to confront him, but found him in a drunken condition taking a baby into his vehicle, said prosecuting barrister Nicholas Williams.

Mold Crown Court heard how she tried to stop him but ended up being assaulted and suffered a broken finger.

Judge Huw Daniel said she ought to be congratulated for what she had done.

The judge said: 'She was very brave.'

He asked the Crown Prosecution Service to write to her to express the public's appreciation for what she had done. He said: 'She put the baby first. She was trying to stop this thoroughly irresponsible drunken man from driving away with the baby.'

The court heard how Jones, 23, now of Ffordd Llanerch in Penycae, had already been banned and placed on probation for drink driving arising from the incident.

However, the investigation into the assault had been overlooked by police and there had been a delay in bringing that case to court.

Jones, a former Welsh Guardsman who saw active service in Northern Ireland, Bosnia and Kosovo, escaped prison after he admitted assault and was placed on a further community rehabilitation order.

He must follow a temper control order and pay £500 compensation to Miss Wright.

But the judge warned him if he breached the order then 'it does not take a genius to work out where you will be going.'

The court heard how Miss Wright confronted him about the accident, realised he was drunk and about to place the baby in the car, and did her best to prevent him from doing so.

Jones denied the incident, tried to blame someone else, and said he had to take the baby away.

He placed the baby in a seat but Miss Wright was concerned he should not drive away and tried to reason with him. When he took no notice she tried to physically move him away from the car but he pushed her.

She then stood in his way to prevent him from getting into the car but again he pushed her and she fell into her ex-boyfriend.

Thinking there was going to be a confrontation between Jones and her ex-boyfriend, Miss Wright stood between them and Jones grabbed her hands, interlocked his fingers in hers, and threw her to the ground.

He drove off with the baby and Miss Wright was in pain but did not initially realise she had fractured a joint in her right ring finger.

That was in November of last year but he was not questioned until July of this year.

Defending barrister John Philpotts said his client appreciated he had been reckless and had caused the injury.

He was remorseful, it had been hanging over him a long time, he had taken action to control his drinking but would welcome assistance to control his temper.

He had been in the Welsh Guards, regretted leaving and had difficulty adjusting back into civilian life.