A 22-year-old Douglas woman has been fined £500 after admitting being drunk and disorderly.

Laura Elizabeth Cain, of Murrays Lake Drive, had a second charge against her of assaulting a police officer withdrawn.

She was also banned from entering licensed premises, and purchasing or being sold alcohol for three months.

Prosecutor James Robinson told the court how, on June 7 at 11.45pm, police were on patrol outside Nexus bar on Loch Promenade.

They were approached by the designated official of the bar who said that Cain had punched him in the chest after he had assisted in escorting her from the premises.

Cain was located and began swearing.

She was told to speak calmly by police but continued to swear and criticise the pub bouncer.

She was again warned about her language but continued to use foul words.

Cain told police where to go and continued swearing, saying: ’If you’re going to warn me again you might as well arrest me.’

Police moved her against a wall to handcuff her and her leg made contact with one PC causing police to put her to the ground.

As officers attempted to move her she continued swearing, shouting: ’You’re a joke.’

Defence advocate Roger Kane said: ’Ms Cain is fortunate in the way the prosecution have proceeded in these matters. It could have been a lot worse.

’Her behaviour in relation to the police officers was disorderly. The altercation in the nightclub is disputed. She believed it was mistaken identity which led to her acting in a belligerent way.

’She spent a night in the cells which would have been a sobering experience.’

Mr Kane went on to say that Cain had a good job and that she had been belligerent rather than aggressive.

But Deputy High Bailiff Jayne Hughes said that swearing at the police and telling them to arrest her sounded fairly aggressive to her.

Mrs Hughes told Cain: ’Your behaviour was nothing short of being disgraceful. I don’t know what your job involves on a daily basis but I’m sure it doesn’t involve being sworn at.

’I accept you weren’t physically aggressive but your behaviour was totally unacceptable.

’This sort of behaviour by drunken individuals late at night will not be tolerated by the courts.’

Cain was also ordered to pay £125 prosecution costs.