A DRUNK woman who poured herself a drink at a Longtown hotel and then smashed the glass has been handed a court bill for £233.

But the defence lawyer representing mum-of-four Amy Leanne Taylor, 37, said she was struggling to come to terms with the alcohol-related death of her sister and battling with panic attacks and another mental health condition.

At Carlisle’s Rickergate court, Taylor pleaded guilty to causing criminal damage to a £3 pint glass and stealing alcohol worth £5.

Prosecutor Pam Ward said the defendant had been barred from the Graham Arms Hotel in Longtown because of her previous bad behaviour but on the evening of July 9 this year she simply walked in.

Taylor walked to the bar area, leaned over it and, having picked up a customer’s glass, then used one of the bar taps to fill the glass with cider, said Mrs Ward.

“This caused the drink to be undrinkable,” continued the prosecutor. Taylor was able to do this despite a member of the bar staff attempting to stop her from using the cider tap that was fitted to the bar.

“She was asked to leave but refused to and continued to behave in a drunken manner. She took an empty pint glass outside and smashed it.” The court heard that Taylor was last in court in January for being drunk and disorderly.

Kate Hunter, defending, said the defendant could not remember much of the evening but she had not intended to distress anybody or cause harm.

“She quite simply was determined to get herself a drink,” said the lawyer. “She has shown remorse but this has turned out to be a very expensive pint for Miss Taylor. She was reckless, simply going round to the bar area and pulling a pint.”

Miss Hunter said that the offence may in fact prove to be a point of “epiphany” or realisation for the defendant.

The lawyer said: “She is 37 and suffers from bipolar and panic attacks and she is now looking to take steps to try to recover. In the past year, her sister passed away, unfortunately from drink.

“It’s a problem that Miss Taylor got quite emotional over today. It wasn’t only her sister but possibly the realisation that she might be following in her older sister’s footsteps and put herself in an early grave.”

Magistrates imposed a £100 fine, with £85 costs and a £40. The court also ordered that Taylor should reimburse the Graham Arms the £8 costs of the stolen alcohol and the broken beer glass.