Susan DrewTHE OWNER of a Trowbridge bar has appeared in court after she shouted drunken abuse at the landlord of another pub and tried to punch a police officer.

Susan Drew, licensee at Just So Cafe, in Castle Street, went out for Christmas drinks with her daughter and got so drunk she went to the Carpenter's Arms and shouted abuse at the landlord, Mark Mumford.

Michelle Hewitt, prosecuting, said police arrived at the Carpenter's Arms on the evening of December 19 to find Drew standing at the bar, reaching across to try and grab people behind.

Mrs Hewitt said: "They were standing back out of her reach but police heard the defendant shouting and swearing loudly and the abuse did seem to be directed at the landlord Mr Mumford."

When the police tried to talk to Drew, 49, they noticed she smelt strongly of alcohol and her eyes were glazed. She would not calm down and swore at a police officer, before taking a swing at him.

The punch did not make contact but she was arrested for being drunk and disorderly.

She said Mr Mumford was the partner of Drew's daughter.

Drew, representing herself in court on Thursday said she had found out that Mr Mumford was being abusive towards her daughter, who was ill and needed looking after.

She said: "He was too busy putting class A drugs up his nose to care."

Drew said she usually only drank tea and avoided alcohol but that day had been out for Christmas drinks with her daughter and had consumed two large bottles of wine, three Baileys and three Tia Marias.

"It was very unfortunate and way out of order and was against everything I tell my customers to do," she said.

"I don't drink at all normally and I wish now that I had not been out for that Christmas drink with my daughter."

She said she had apologised to everyone involved, including the police.

Drew pleaded guilty at Chippenham magistrates' court to being found drunk in a licensed premises.

Sentence was adjourned until January 28.