Mother was abusive in front of daughter

A COURT has heard how an Ipswich mother had to be restrained by police, after abusing officers, while her seven-year-old daughter looked on.

Rachel Carragher, 37, of Hale Close, admitted using threatening words or behaviour to cause harassment, alarm or distress, at South East Magistrates' Court on Monday.

The court heard how police were called to reports of a disturbance at a fast food restaurant in Ellenbrook Green, Ipswich, on May 28.

Upon arrival officers saw Carragher, who was with her seven-year-old daughter outside the shop, shouting at staff. When she was approached, Carragher became abusive, calling police community support officer's “a waste of time” and “idiots.”

Officers smelled alcohol on her breath and established that a warrant was out for her arrest, after she failed to surrender to a court for an unrelated matter.

Carragher's daughter was taken to her grandparents' house while she was taken to Ipswich police station and charged.

Carragher, who was taken into custody following a struggle with officers, told the court that she was not involved in the incident which was originally reported to police at the kebab shop.

“I wasn't drunk. I had a couple of drinks.

“I admit I was abusive because it was all in front of my daughter who I love with all my heart. For that, I'm truly sorry.”

Carragher, who could not afford the �95 fine handed down to her, was ordered to spend the day in court to pay for her crime.

She was also found to be in breach of a 12-month conditional discharge which she received last October for assaulting a woman in Ipswich town centre.