A mum punched a police officer while being arrested for being drunk in charge of her baby and two year-old son, a court heard.

Police officers were called to St Mark's Court, Southchurch Avenue, Southend, after a member of the public became concerned when they saw Chantel Winstanley unsteady on her feet with a baby in a buggy.

The buggy had fallen over and Winstanley, 29, of The Crescent, Benfleet, was shouting at her son, Southend Magistrates' Court heard yesterday.

When police officers arrived at the scene at 8.30pm on August 9 last year she became abusive and swore at them.

When the two officers tried to arrest her she punched an officer on the forehead.

She then resisted further attempts to arrest her and kicked and spat at the other officer.

Winstanley, who pleaded guilty to two counts of being drunk in charge of a child, assaulting a police officer and resisting arrest, was ordered to undertake 240 hours' community service, pay £200 compensation to the officer she assaulted, and £70 court costs.

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