A VIOLENT drunk who punched, kicked, and spat at bar staff, paramedics, and police officers after she was sick and fell asleep in a pub has been given six months to clean up her act.

Gail Peacock launched her unprovoked attack on staff when she was asked to leave the Green Dragon in Darlington when she was spotted slumped in her seat covered in vomit.

The 52-year-old reacted violently when she was woken up and lashed out at the bar worker – kicking and hitting her before falling back asleep.

Teesside Crown Court heard how staff were so concerned about her condition that they called for an ambulance but Peacock’s behaviour continued to become more and more aggressive and increasingly erratic.

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Peter Sabiston, prosecuting, said Peacock punched one police officer so hard that she had to seek medical attention for concussion and they were forced to use a spit-hood after she spat at them as they were trying to help her out.

The court heard out one of the paramedics was kicked on the shin and in the groin as Peacock continued to resist efforts to get her some medical treatment.

In a victim impact statement, the bar worker said: "I didn’t know whether it was going to stop, it felt like it was going on forever.”

And the female police officer who was punched to the face said she was sent home from work the following day due to suffering from concussion.

Peacock, of Gilling Crescent, Darlington, pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm and five charges of assault on an emergency worker following her violent behaviour on August 24 last year.

Shaun Dryden, in mitigation, said his client had a longstanding issue with alcohol but she made not drank since the incident at the Darlington town centre pub.

He added: “Until she was 50 she was of good character, she appears to have a longstanding problem with alcohol.”

Judge Paul Watson QC, the Recorder of Middlesbrough, deferred Peacock’s 16-month custodial sentence for six months to give her a chance to get clean.

“I’m going to send you to prison for 16 months,” he said. “However, I’m going to give you six-months to prove to me that you have made real efforts to address your drinking.

“When you come back on August 5, if there are any further offences or you haven’t complied with any of the conditions or you have carried on drinking – you will start your 16-month sentence.

“Are you clear about that?”

Peacock was ordered to engage in the restorative justice programme and work with the probation service over the next six months.

Judge Watson added: “I will have no hesitation to send you to prison, if I have got it wrong, I will be in a position to put it right as I reserve the case to myself.”

After she was sentenced, Peacock said: “I do apologise for everything that I have done. It’s not me, it’s not my nature – I’m not an angry person.”

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