A LOOSE grip on a Coca Cola bottle that saw it fly into the face of an off duty police officer has seen a Barrow pensioner in court charged with assault.

On Wednesday (10) it was heard how on October 14, 2017, Kathleen Margaret Mutton, 69, launched a foul-mouthed tirade at a male passenger on a Preston-bound train. As she swung back to strike the man with a plastic bottle she was holding it flew from her grip, hitting PC Sarah McArthur.

Mr Lee Dacre, prosecuting, said: "On Saturday October 14 around 6.55am the defendant boarded a train headed to Preston. Already on that train was an off duty police officer [PC McArthur]. She recognised the defendant after dealing with her during her 15 years as a police officer."

Mr Dacre continued by saying after a male passenger boarded the train the defendant became increasingly angry at his presence, using abusive language towards him.

He told the court the defendant shouted: "I don't like males, get off the train.

"She moved towards the male and was holding the bottle upside down. She swung her arm towards the male as if she were to hit him. As she went to swing the bottle she swung it back but lost her grip." It hit PC McArthur, who was standing behind Mutton.

After being escorted from the train she was met by another officer, PC David Tortoishell. It was during this interaction that Mutton, who uses a mobility scooter, drove it into the the officer.

In defence, Miss Karen Templeton said: "The man [on the train], it is no excuse, but she does get quite a lot of abuse from him going through town."

In relation to driving into the police officer, Miss Templeton added: "It was reckless but it was not intentional."

Mutton, of Raglan Court, pleaded guilty to one charge of assault, and one charge of assaulting a police officer.

She was sentenced to a 12 week curfew, lasting between 7pm and 7am. She was ordered to pay £50 compensation to PC McArthur as well as an £85 victim surcharge, and £85 court costs.