A 46-year-old woman from Barrow Island became verbally abusive and threw a stick at an off-duty police officer's car.

Dawn Michelle Goodwin had been drinking heavily and was rowing with a man in the street before launching the tirade at the officer.

Goodwin, of Egerton Court, Barrow Island, was later found hiding in bushes and was arrested.

She appeared before Furness Magistrates' Court on Tuesday, where she pleaded guilty to using threatening behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress on April 21.

Mr Andrew Travis, prosecuting, said: "A man and a woman were having a heated argument in the street and as she passed an off-duty police officer, she slowed down her car as she was concerned about what was happening. 

The defendant swore at her and was brandishing a stick which she then threw at the car and continued to be verbally abusive.

"Police were called and she was found hiding in some bushes and was arrested.

"In interview she said she had drunk about eight litres of cider with her boyfriend. She said she was drunk but she was aware of what she was doing and realised she was in the wrong. She recalled shouting at the victim and throwing the stick at the car.

"She admitted she has a drink problem."

Mr Michael Graham, defending, said there was no dispute over the facts of the case and his client was aware that she had acted inappropriately.

Magistrates gave her credit for her early guilty plea and commented on her very long record of such incidents.

Goodwin was fined £80 and ordered to pay £85 court costs and a £30 victim surcharge.