A DRUNKEN woman racially abused a 15-year-old schoolgirl and spat in the face of a police officer after being arrested.

Problems had occurred between Helena Tonks and her teenage neighbour six months before the incident, Worcester Crown Court heard.

On August 13 she returned home in a taxi while the girl was stood in the street chatting.

Tonks began staggering around and kicking her own door before shouting racial and derogatory comments, said Gareth Walters, prosecuting.

The victim's mother alerted police and they heard more abuse as they approached her.

As Tonks was being put in a cell at Redditch police station, she grabbed an officer's belt and spat in his face.

She confessed to drinking half a litre of vodka and two beers.

Tonks, aged 31, of Jackfield Close, Redditch, pleaded guilty to racially aggravated threatening behaviour and assault on police.

Judge Alistair McCreath said she had shouted at her neighbour "precisely because of her skin colour".

He added: "Those who behave like that cause enormous offence and commit serious crime. Prison is always an option."

The judge said Tonks suffered from a drink problem and was "hopelessly out of control" when she behaved in an undignifed way.

He gave her a two-year community order with an alcohol treatment requirement, but warned that if she drank heavily again she would "blow her chance".

Michael Aspinall, defending, said mother-of-one Tonks was deeply ashamed and had Asian friends herself.

She was not a woman with entrenched loathsome views, but had uttered insults purely because of drink.

She had recently completed a jewellery course at college and was making efforts to move address.