A MOTHER and daughter have appeared in court following a drunken row with police.
May Austin, 49 and Lianne Austin, 23, both of Sutton Way, Great Sutton, pleaded guilty to drunk and disorderly behaviour and failing to surrender for a previous hearing, at Chester and Ellesmere Port Magistrates Court on Monday.
Rob Youds, prosecuting, told the court how police were called to May Austin’s flat at 10.40pm on April, 30, following reports of a disturbance.
Upon arrival, Lianne Austin and her brother were asked to leave by police, but May Austin objected and followed them out onto the street, where she verbally abused the officers.
Mr Youds said: “At this point May Austin was arrested and Lianne was heard to shout ‘you’re not taking her, take your filthy hands off her’.”
Neighbours then began to shout from their flats and the pair were arrested.
Defending, Chris Hunt, said “It’s fair to say that May Austin is a chronic alcoholic, but Lianne, who has no previous convictions, was only there that night because she’d been out celebrating her brother’s birthday – who it’s also fair to say has a drink problem.
“On their way home, Lianne was hassled by a group of men and wisely decided not to tell her mother about it.
“Unfortunately her brother did and May, who as usual had been drinking, became very distraught and distressed and threatened to take some tablets.
“The disturbance was caused by Lianne trying to stop her mother taking the tablets.”
He added: “It’s accurate to say that May started to drink because she couldn’t cope with her seven children and now she drinks because she can’t handle that they’re not there anymore.
“She’s had a pretty awful life so far.”
Magistrates were told that May Austin had 19 convictions for 29 offences.
Both women were fined £65 but the fine was scrapped because of time already served in custody.
