Murder victim Anneli Alderton appeared at Colchester Court earlier this year.

She wept in the dock as magistrates heard how she attacked a police officer.

The court case in August heard that Anneli kicked the officer after she was arrested for being drunk and disorderly.

Colchester Magistrates Court heard the 24-year-old was arrested when police were called to a disturbance at a Colchester town centre pub.

They found Anneli in St John's Street and she persistently swore at them.

After she was arrested, she was taken to the town's police station, where she continued swearing and shouting and eventually kicked the officer in the shin, the court heard.

Anneli admitted being drunk and disorderly and assaulting a PC.

Anneli missed her son's first day at school because she had to attend court.

When she appeared at court for sentence, magistrate John Valentine warned Anneli she would end up an "old hag" if she kept breaking the law.

Mr Valentine warned Anneli was could end up "rotting behind bars and miss seeing her son grow up if she didn't mend her ways".

The court hearing was told that Anneli had spent just four months out of prison in the past four years.

Mr Valentine imposed a year-long community order on Anneli. He said: "If you do not take this chance, you are going to end up as an old hag in prison, never seeing your son grow up."

Lucy Osborn, who mitigated for Anneli in court, said she "momentarily lashed out".