A MOTHER has been given a fresh start after her three children were left “scared and cowering” following a drunken rage.

The three children attempted to escape the woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, after she had drunk almost an entire bottle of brandy.

She was sentenced on January 26 at Salisbury magistrates’ court for three counts of neglecting her children causing unnecessary suffering or injury.

The three young children and their older sister tried to get away from their mother after a row broke out when the older sister wanted to take them out.

Defending, Kate Prince said: “The defendant pushed the door as they were trying to hold it closed and caused the younger child to be knocked over.”

One of her three children, aged 12, called the police on June 12 to say their mum was “behaving badly”

The child said to the call handler: “I don’t really know what is wrong with my mum she pushed me onto the floor.”

Mrs Prince added: “On entering the property they found the children to be scared.

“[The mother’s] shoes were tied up but they were on the wrong feet and the officers tried to speak to her but they couldn’t understand her.”

The court heard that the mother tried to take the middle child into her arms but he cowered.

Nick Redhead, defending, said his client was suffering from a drinking problem due to a “difficult relationship”.

He added that the mother will be receiving help from alcohol treatment service Turning Point.

A member of the probation service added: “The most potent cause of her behaviour is alcohol.”

In sentencing, District Judge Simon Cooper said: “You accepted your responsibility of neglecting your children. This is a very sorry state of circumstances.

“Life has dealt you a difficult hand.”

The mother was handed an 18-month community order, along with a six-month alcohol treatment programme and 23 rehabilitation days.