A WOMAN who tried to run into a nightclub with a baseball bat has been given a community order.

Joanne Way, of Osney Court, Botley Road, Oxford, admitted possessing an offensive weapon in a public place and drink-driving on May 24 this year.

The 41-year-old was caught on CCTV in St George Street, Bristol, driving up to a busy nightclub in the early hours of the morning. She was seen jumping out of her car and running towards the venue brandishing a baseball bat, before being ushered away by police officers who then arrested her.

Darren Bartlett, prosecuting yesterday at Oxford Crown Court, said the incident followed an altercation inside the club earlier in the evening.

He added that Way has previous convictions for theft, violence, attempted robbery and battery.

She also had 53 micrograms of alcohol in 100ml of breath, above the legal limit of 35 micrograms.

Alistair Grainger, defending, said his client had not been very far over the limit and no one had been hurt during the incident. He told Judge Ian Pringle that in the past Way had struggled with a drug addiction and periods of intense depression.

The barrister added that the offence was committed at a time when her “emotions were running high” because she had recently been diagnosed with cancer.

Judge Pringle told Way she had to “control her temper” or she would keep getting into trouble with the courts.

He sentenced her to a 12-month community order with supervision for 12 months, a £250 fine, a 12-month driving ban and a £60 victims’ surcharge.

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