Mother bit her son's wrist in drunken rage

Long, 52, of Bremhill, Calne, first appeared before Chippenham Magistrates on Friday after being arrested when her husband had called the police when she bit her son's wrist in a drunken rage.

Magistrates released her on a one-year conditional discharge only for her to be re-arrested the following night after a similar drunken incident.

Long spent the weekend in custody before re-appearing at Chippenham Magistrates on Monday.

The court heard how Long, who pleaded guilty to common assault and breaching her conditional discharge, had gone out for a 'couple of glasses of wine' before buying a litre of gin and returning back home.

Her son was at home doing college work but when he found the gin he tried to take it away, said Anna Humphries, prosecuting.

Long, who admitted to being able to easily drink a litre bottle of vodka in a day, battled to get the gin back.

In the process she slapped and scratched her son about the head and neck, leaving red marks on his skin, said Miss Humphries.

Long's husband and ten-year-old daughter returned during the incident and Mr Long called the police.

Miss Humphries said: "Mrs Long was arrested and cautioned but refused to leave the house and was clinging to the banisters."

The court also heard how on the previous occasion the family had returned home on a Sunday to find Mrs Long slumped against the washing machine on the kitchen floor due to excess alcohol consumption.

Miss Humphries said: "Her son filmed her with a video camera to show her how poorly she was."

Long was taken to the living room where an argument broke out before the rest of the family returned to the kitchen to give the ten-year-old daughter her medication.

Long's son tried to prevent her from coming in to the kitchen and in the process was bitten on the wrist.

Long was given an 18-month community rehabilitation order and ordered to pay £70 costs.