A WOMAN who was looking after a young child was found drunk on a park bench in central Southampton.
Carmel Betteridge was slurring her words and staggering when police officers approached her and a child as they sat on a bench in Vincent’s Walk.
Appearing at Southampton Magistrates’ Court, the 29-year-old was found guilty of being drunk while in charge of a child.
Prosecutor Liam Hunter said police were called to Vincent’s Walk around 8.30pm on August 28, following calls from concerned members of the public.
One report also claimed to have seen Betteridge vomiting.
Two police officers, PC Ben Hitchins and PC Martin Parker, approached Betteridge, who was said to be both “uncooperative” and “slurring her words” and whose breath also smelt of alcohol.
PC Hitchins said: “She was aggressive she kept repeating herself.
“She was saying things like ‘I can’t give you my name’ and ‘I’m not going to give you my name’.”
The court was shown footage, shot from the body worn camera of PC Parker, which showed the incident.
During the video, Betteridge told officers she was sober and fit to look after the child.
Betteridge admitted she had one drink, but denied being drunk.
She also dismissed claims she was stumbling as being down to her “being clumsy” and the stress of dealing with police had interfered with her speech.
After hearing the evidence, District Judge Peter Greenfield found Betteridge guilty.
He said: “I’ve seen the body worn camera footage, which seems to show you were intoxicated.
“I’ve also listened to the officers’ evidence, who say you were drunk that night.”
Judge Greenfield adjourned the hearing for sentencing to March 20.
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