Mum ‘under the influence’ was propped up on roadside by child

A LLANELLI mother was found on a roadside by police under the influence of alcohol and being propped up by her child.

Police then learned that two further children were home alone.

The woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty to three charges of child neglect when she appeared before Llanelli Magistrates’ Court on Thursday.

All charges relate to the evening of November 23.

Prosecutor Sian Vaughan said: “At 9.30pm police officers became aware of the defendant having difficulty keeping her balance and she was being supported by her child.”

The court heard the child was under the age of 10.

Mrs Vaughan did not specify exactly along which road in Llanelli the mother was spoken to by police but added: “Her speech was slurred and her eyes were glazed and she was falling into one of the officers, almost knocking him over.”

The defendant also swore at police, the court was told.

Police were then informed that she had left a teenager and a younger child home alone while she was out.

Mrs Vaughan said the defendant told police she had been away from her home since “eight-ish” and that she “wasn’t going to be long”.

Defence solicitor Laura Sherwood requested an adjournment of the case ahead of sentencing for a probation report to be carried out due to the defendant’s alcohol issues.

She added that there would need to be input from social services as they are having ongoing dealings with the defendant.

District judge Christopher James agreed to adjourn the case for four weeks and told the defendant that a condition of her bail would be to live and sleep each night at her home address and being inside between the hours of 8pm and 6am.

Sentencing will take place at Llanelli Magistrates’ Court on January 17.