A NEGLECTFUL Barrow aunt who was so drunk she soiled herself while taking care of her young nephew has been spared a prison sentence.

On Wednesday Furness Magistrates' Court heard that on August 17 a woman was babysitting her nephew for the day.

Around 8pm at Bootle railway station a member of the public noticed she, and her male companion, also from Barrow, appeared to be incredibly drunk.

Mr Peter Kelly, prosecuting, said: "At 8pm PC Chloe Toole attended Bootle railway station, after a report from a member of the public. They were concerned they were very intoxicated and was not appropriate for them to have a child."

Mr Kelly told the court that, upon boarding the train, PC Toole saw the man and woman drinking beer. In front of them was also a two-litre bottle of cider.

He said: "Both were extremely drunk to have the capacity to care for a child.

"The woman had soiled herself; the PC could see and smell that."

Mr Kelly continued: "When police questioned the pair, the man became angry when told he could not leave the train. He pushed PC Toole, and a scuffle ensued. A second officer, PC Michael Gale, arrived, who the male defendant attempted to headbutt.

Mr Kelly concluded by saying the pair had taken prescription medication along with the alcohol. He said: "He said he combined alcohol with codeine which affected how he responded to the police, he can't remember trying to headbutt the officer.

"She said she wasn't intoxicated, having only a WKD and one lager. She had taken prescription medication which she accepts needn't have been taken with alcohol."

Mr Michael Graham, defending, said: "They accept that they took alcohol, which they accept they shouldn't have mixed with drugs. When the police attended he reacted to the officers, he hadn't been arrested when PC Toole laid a hand on him, but in his drink, he accepted he acted recklessly."

Mr Graham said because of her actions, the woman had been banned from seeing her nephew by the boy's father, only being allowed to talk to him on the phone.

Sentencing, District Judge Gerald Chalk, said: "This is a very serious offence. You were responsible for a child and you were in no fit state. You put that child at risk."

The defendants cannot be named to protect the identity of the young boy.

The woman pleaded guilty to one charge of assault, ill-treatment, or neglect of a child or young person. She was sentenced to 60 days in prison, suspended for one year. She was also given an eight-week electronically monitored curfew, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £115 and costs of £85.

The man pleaded guilty to assaulting a police officer, and assault with intent to resist. He was ordered to pay a fine of £100 for assaulting the officers, and pay £100 each in compensation to them. He was ordered to pay costs of £85.

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