Chance to turn life around.

A WOMAN with an alcohol problem has been given a chance to turn her life around after breaching an anti-social behaviour order.

Victoria Williams, of George Street, Honiton, was given a supervision order when she appeared at Central Devon Magistrates’ Court last week.

The 20-year-old pleaded guilty to the charges that on August 26 she failed to comply with the terms of an anti-social behaviour order made by the court on January 4 after 22 incidents of anti-social behaviour since April 2010.

She was seen by a police officer congregating in a group of seven people holding a plastic pint glass containing what was thought to be either lager or cider and was arrested.

As part of the order, Williams is prohibited from associating with named individuals, drinking alcohol in a public place and congregating in groups of more than three people on a public highway without written permission of the duty inspector.

The court heard this was her first breach and that she had not intended to commit these offences and knows she shouldn’t have been drinking in a public place.

Williams had been out with her friend at a pub and took her drink outside after closing time and on her way home bumped into another group of friends, including a named individual she is prohibited from seeing.

The court also heard that no harassment had been caused by her behaviour, but Williams had refused to come with police and was put in leg restraints and taken to the police station, however, she had not been charged with obstructing or resisting arrest.

The chairman of the bench, Ian Derbyshire, said: “We are concerned that you do seem to have an alcohol problem.

“If you don’t sort that out it will only get worse in the future.”

Williams must comply with a supervision order for 12 months and undertake an alcohol rehabilitation scheme, in addition to this an existing conditional discharge put in place by the court will continue to run.

Mr Derbyshire added: “This is a punishment, but, at the same time, it is there to help you to get over the problems that you have and help you have a better life in the future.”