Mourner threw items at staff in The Little Arms after mother's funeral

Alison Benson, 52, was at The Little Arms in Cleator Moor with her sister on July 30. Police were contacted to a report of a woman being aggressive in the pub, Workington Magistrates’ Court heard.

Pamela Fee, prosecuting, said the bar manager had been upstairs in her flat when she was notified that some people had entered the pub who had been at a funeral.

They were drunk and had the jukebox on. The noise was getting louder and louder. The bar manager went downstairs to help members of staff. Benson’s sister, Catherine, was dancing ‘inappropriately’.

The bar manager went over and asked them to keep the noise down but they continued with the lewd behaviour. They were ‘dancing round, lifting their skirts up’, the court was told.

The bar manager went back over and asked them to leave because they were being disrespectful.

Benson then started shouting at her, telling her to ‘get back in her crack den’. The defendant then started grabbing things from the bar and throwing them at the bar manager.

Alison Benson attempted to pull the pumps from the bar during the incident (Image: Crown Prosecution Service)

She threw drip trays at her and then started pulling at the bar pumps. Benson and her sister continued to shout at the bar manager.

Benson then spat at her and they were both shouting that they were ‘going to get her’.

The bar manager said they were ‘absolutely off their heads’ and she was scared they were going to get behind the bar.

In a victim personal statement, the bar manager said: “The whole incident has really shaken me.

“I have never experienced anything like that before. I was physically shaking when it was happening.

“What happened really threw me.”

Police said the victim was ‘shaken up’ and ‘upset’ when they arrived on the scene.

Ms Fee said it was a ‘sustained incident’ where missiles had been thrown and an individual had been targeted. Members of staff were simply doing their jobs.

Benson, of The Gardens, Whitehaven, pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to common assault and using threatening, abusive, insulting words or behaviour with intent to cause fear of or provoke unlawful violence.

The pair were said to be 'absolutely off their heads' (Image: Crown Prosecution Service)

Catherine Benson also pleaded guilty to using threatening, abusive, insulting words or behaviour with intent to cause fear or provoke unlawful violence, and was sentenced last month.

Mike Woolaghan, defending, said: “I’m certainly not going to excuse that behaviour.

“Most of the people there are just ignoring it but it would be distressing to the people behind the bar.

“She has expressed genuine remorse and regret for her actions. She has acknowledged the way her actions have impacted on other people.

“This is a lady who has been in mental health crisis. Her childhood and adult life have been categorised by trauma.

“She made a number of sacrifices to care for her mother. She felt some distress and grief in the fact she could no longer care for her mother.

“She has expressed her desire to get help and support.

“She is a lady of generally good character.”

Magistrates imposed a 12-month community order with 10 rehabilitation activity requirement days.

Benson was fined £120 and ordered to pay £300 to the victim. She must also pay £85 costs.