A MUM has admitted being drunk in charge of her young son as she staggered about a supermarket car park while holding him in her arms.

Tara Hardwick admitted being drunk in charge of two year-old-son Oliver at Tesco in Mill Wood Drive, Worcester, after she drank cider and wine.

The 30-year-old of Popert Drive, off Newtown Road, Worcester appeared before city magistrates on Friday, July 21, where she admitted the offence, which took place on Monday, June 13.

Angla Hallan, prosecuting, said the night manager at Tesco was outside having a cigarette when he saw Hardwick in the early hours of the morning. She was talking to a taxi driver, who was asking for payment.

Mrs Hallan said: "He noticed the female was unsteady on her feet and swaying from side to side.

"She had a young child in her arms, two years of age, with nothing on his feet.

"She was swaying backwards and forwards and kept losing her balance.

"She seemed to be struggling to use the cashpoint and was unable to get any money out and was having issues focusing on the screen."

The taxi driver removed a pushchair and a number of bags from the car and drove off.

The night manager asked if Hardwick was okay and if she needed any help and she asked him to take hold of her son.

Mrs Hallan said: "She seemed to be getting more and more confused and he (the night manager) believed the cashpoint may have swallowed up her card."

A police officer attended to find her with her son in her lap with Hardwick seeming to be falling asleep.

The officer became concerned for the welfare of the child, could smell alcohol on Hardwick's breath and noted that her speech was slurred.

Hardwick blamed the officer when the child began to cry.

The officer asked her to put the child in his pushchair, warning Hardwick that otherwise he would be removed from her. Eventually she did this and he dropped off to sleep, Mrs Hallan said.

She was arrested and told police she had consumed two cans of cider and did not have enough to eat before going with her aunt to get fish and chips.

They consumed a bottle of wine between them before she left her aunt's house in a taxi.

Hardwick had no previous convictions but had been cautioned for a section four public order offence in 2004.

David Howarth, defending, said: "To say that Mrs Hardwick regrets the offence is an understatement. She is devastated by what has occurred.

"She is a single mother and has a son Oliver who is two-and-a-half. She split up from his father 12 months ago.

"She had been on holiday for a week with Oliver and she came back quite exhausted. She took the bull by the horns and contacted social services herself the following day.

"She has had contact from them and they have no intention for any ongoing intervention."

Magistrates gave her a conditional discharge for 12 months, ordered to pay £135 costs and a £20 victim surcharge.