A CHARD mother who fell over a wall dragging her five-year-old child with her was so drunk she could not even remember his name or how old he was.

The woman, 45, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had drunk a tall glass of vodka at lunchtime, and then stopped at a café with her young son and had a glass of wine.

A friend bought her another drink, but she later told police she had no memory of what happened after that or even if she had drunk it or not.

She was then seen staggering along the pavement holding her son’s hand when she fell over the wall, leaving her son crying and distressed, magistrates were told.

The woman pleaded guilty to being found drunk in Holyrood Street, Chard, while having the charge of a child under the age of seven.

Prosecutor Christine Hart said she had appeared to be in an intoxicated state.

She said: “She was swaying from side to side, and crossed the road and walked past a row of bungalows still holding her son.

“She then fell over a low wall by the bungalows and dragged her son with her who started crying and was distressed, but not injured.

“A witness took hold of the child and the police were called and when officers attended the scene they found the woman who was staggering from left to right and slurring her words which were almost incomprehensible.

“When asked details about her son she could not recall his name or age was then arrested and taken to the police station.”

In interview the next day, she said she had drunk a tall glass of vodka and coke along with one small glass of wine in the café.

She had no recollection of what happened and did not know that she had been drunk.

Defending solicitor Ray Peters said the defendant recalled a friend buying her a second glass of wine but could not remember anything else.

“She wonders if someone may have spiked her drinks but realises it would be difficult to establish that,” he said.

“However she was open with the police and accepts that being in charge of a young child while inebriated is not acceptable.”

The magistrates sentenced the woman to a five-week curfew order between 7pm and 7am daily, and imposed a £60 victim surcharge, but made no order for costs