A woman got into a dance floor brawl with the Virgin Mary, a court heard this week.

Peel woman Melissa Moffatt had been subject to rumours she had assaulted a pregnant woman as her victim’s fancy dress costume involved a pillow stuffed inside her dress.

High Bailiff Jayne Hughes said it was an aggravating factor that the incident happened in the Christmas period.

Moffatt, of Kerroo Coar, pleaded guilty to a charge of disorderly behaviour on licensed premises and was fined £450.

A charge of common assault against her was withdrawn.

Prosecuting advocate Hazel Carroon told the court that Moffatt, 27, was out with a group of friends at the Creek Inn, Peel, on December 6.

They were on the dance floor when they took umbrage with another group of women, who were also dancing.

The court heard this resulted in some pushing and shoving but the trouble was broken up by other customers in the pub.

Moffatt walked off the dance floor and put on her coat but she was then said to have then got involved in another physical altercation involving shoves, grapples and punches.

Customers again broke up the scuffle and Moffatt was arrested.

When interviewed by police, she said she had been drinking at home from 7pm and had gone to the Creek Inn at 10pm where she had drunk two vodka and Cokes and a shot of Sambuca.

She said she was on the dance floor with her friends when they had started bumping elbows with other women to get room.

This had then escalated into a verbal argument after she said she was nudged by a woman in fancy dress.

She said that she had been told a woman had been hurt but claimed she had not touched anyone.

She told police: ’I’ve been in a bit of a brawl.

’Everyone was just going at each other after some nudging.’

Defence advocate David Clegg said: ’She felt somewhat aggrieved she was the one being dealt with but accepts she was disorderly.

’One of the women was in fancy dress as the Virgin Mary with child, with a pillow up her dress so Ms Moffatt has been subject to rumours around Peel that she assaulted a pregnant woman.’

High Bailiff Jayne Hughes said that it was an aggravating factor that the offence was committed during the Christmas period but added that she would treat it as a one-off incident.

Moffatt was also ordered to pay £125 prosecution costs which she will pay, along with the fine, at a rate of £60 per week.