A WOMAN was caught staggering across the road drunk in charge of a double buggy.

Motorists were forced to slow down as Nicola Gardner zig-zagged across a busy road with an open can of Stella lager in the pram.

Fearful the buggy, carrying a two-year-old toddler and a four-month old baby, would topple over, some drivers stopped to make sure they were safely on the pavement.

When police arrived at Old Chester Road, Higher Bebington, Wirral, on November 4 last year Gardner did not even know the children’s names.

The 37-year-old, from St Anne Street, Birkenhead, was convicted of being drunk in charge of children.

She appeared before Wirral magistrates for sentencing yesterday.

Anna Beeho, prosecuting, said: “When officers approached they could smell intoxicants.

When they asked about the children she said they belonged to the daughter of a friend.

She added that she did not know their names.

Officers said the shouting was upsetting the children.

Soon after, Gardner told police she was an alcoholic.

She denied being drunk in charge of the children but was found guilty at trial.

She admitted criminal damage committed while she was held in a cell.

Tessa Hinder, defending, said her client was of previous good character.

Magistrates sentenced Gardner to a 12-month supervision order and sent her on an alcohol rehabilitation course. She also has to pay £250 costs.


THE LIVERPOOL ECHO

shocking, blind fold the [censored] and stick her on a motor way, see how she likes it.

At rush hour.

What about the mother of these children? What possessed her to hand over her children to an alcoholic to look after? What was she doing? IMHO she's guilty of neglect also.

A serious topic I know, but that description has the makings of a cracking comedy sketch

quote "Tessa Hinder, defending, said her client was of previous good character."

im sure she was of good character.....to damage the cell....and be pissed in charge of kids....

Another workhouse candidate - actually no - she needs to go to a house of correction.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_of_Correction

The House of Correction was a type of building built after the passing of the Elizabethan Poor Law (1601). Houses of correction were places where those who were "unwilling to work" * including vagrants and beggars were set to work. The building of houses of correction came after the passing of an amendment to the Elizabethan Poor Law.[1]. However the houses of correction were not considered a part of the Elizabethan Poor Law system because the act distinguished between settled poor and wandering poor.

* Not a 20th/21st century phenomenon then...

^ Very good!

This is what annoys me about defence - I'd want her strung up!!

Some people should not be allowed to breed or look after children!!