A DRUNK woman who shouted abuse at police officers while lying on the front of a taxi has been fined.

Michelle Clarke, of Shurnhold, Melksham, admitted being drunk and disorderly in a public place at Salisbury Magistrates’ Court on Friday.

The 42-year-old had been out drinking with friends on October 8 at the Parsons Nose pub in High Street when she started shouting at police officers who were dealing with a separate assault at the pub.

Prosecuting, Kate Prince said officers asked Clarke to go home but she refused and got up on the bonnet of a taxi.

“One of the officers was unable to deal with witnesses of the actual bodily harm because of Ms Clarke,” she said.

Clarke then left the area for area 10 minutes before returning and continuing to shouting at the police officers.

Clarke, who was unrepresented, told the court that she was sorry for her behaviour, saying: “I hadn’t been on my anti-depressants for a couple of weeks and I did drink quite an amount of strong vodka at home.”

Magistrate Richard Mattick said that the whole situation was “very unpleasant”, adding: “the police are there to do their jobs and you didn’t help them.

“You had every opportunity to go home and you wouldn’t have been here today.”

Clarke was ordered to pay a £100 fine, £85 court costs and £30 victim surcharge.