A DRUNKEN mother who took her premature baby on a drinking spree walked free from court yesterday.

The baby was still wearing an oxygen mask, which was ripped off when her 38-year-old mother snagged the tube on a chair after she was refused a drink, magistrates were told.

The woman, who cannot be named in order to protect the identity of the child, admitted being drunk in charge of a child while at a pub in Wallsend, North Tyneside.

She was given a one year conditional discharge by magistrates and ordered to pay £43 costs.

Last night, Michelle Elliott, director of children's charity Kidscape, said: "It rather beggars belief that she could be so irresponsible. At the very least, the magistrates should have made her take courses so she understands her responsibilities to young children.

"I don't think she should have been sent to prison, but she should be given some guidance."

Yvonne Jobling, prosecuting, told North Tyneside magistrates that police were called to the pub shortly after 4pm on May 5, but the woman had left.

"She had run through the Forum shopping centre, where she was found by police in the Factory Meat shop.

"She was holding a small baby a few months old in her hands. She had tubes coming from her nose, which she explained were to provide it with oxygen.

"She was unsteady on her feet, her eyes were glazed, she was swaying and the officers realised she was drunk."

She was arrested and taken to Wallsend police station, where she admitted she had been "tipsy" when the child was in her care.

The baby girl was four months old and had been born prematurely, the court heard.

Mark Harrison, mitigating, said the jobless woman had been drinking to cope with family difficulties.

"On this particular day she had taken herself drinking. She had about three pints of ordinary lager and was not excessively drunk.

"But she had been tired and not sleeping. She was not in a position to care for a child."

Mr Harrison said social services had intervened and were helping her with her problems.