AN ELDERLY woman was found drunk at the back of a supermarket, a court heard.

Helen Van Spankeren, aged 71, admitted to being drunk in a public place or licensed premises, namely the rear of the Iceland supermarket in Blandford, at Weymouth Magistrates' Court.

Spankeren also admitted another offence of being drunk in a public place the day before, namely near the River Stour in Blandford.

Elizabeth Valera, prosecuting, said police were called at around 6pm on November 21, 2017, following concerns for Spankeren’s welfare after she was seen drunk by the river. She was found to have mud on her and an empty bottle of whisky. She was arrested and later released.

The following day, police were told an ambulance had been called to Iceland in Blandford because Spankeren was face down and drunk at the back of the store and was not moving.

Mrs Valera said according to police, Spankeren was drunk and incapable and they arrested her as she was a danger to herself and others.

The offences mean Spankeren, of Hanover Court, Blandford, breached her previous conditional discharge by three days. The order was introduced in the hope that she might find help.

In mitigation, Max Owen said: “My client is an elderly lady who does occasionally drink too much and clearly last year on those two days she was going through a bad patch. She accepts that she had too much to drink.”

He added: “She hasn’t reoffended since November.”

Spankeren was given another conditional discharge.

Chairman of the bench, Debbie Boitoult, told her: “For the two offences in November when you were found drunk in a public place, we are going to put those offences together and you will have a conditional discharge for four months.

"That means that you are not being punished for those offences today but if you commit any more offences in those four months you can be punished for today’s offences as well as the new offence.”

Spankeren must also pay a victim surcharge of £20.