A MUM lashed out at a police officer who came to take away her five-year-old son when she was drunk.

Kelly Griffiths was at the Old Ship Hotel on Brighton seafront last month when police were called.

Concerns were raised because she was with her son.

When police arrived to take her son off her to hand him over to social services, she kicked PC Adam Parris.

The single mum used to work in the hotel as a singer, and has been battling an alcohol problem, Brighton Magistrates’ Court heard.

Griffiths was given a four-week suspended prison sentence.

Suzanne Soros, prosecuting, told the court the incident happened at the hotel on May 26 this year.

She said Griffiths admitted being drunk in charge of a child under the age of seven, and assaulting an emergency worker.

It was revealed that she had booted the officer with a shod foot while handcuffed.

Joe Harrington, defending, said she is suffering from health issues and is the sole carer for her child in the absence of the boy’s father.

She used to be a singer in the hotel, and previously worked as cabin crew, but is now looking for work.

Mr Harrington said Griffiths now accepts that she has had a problem with binge drinking and getting into trouble when she is drunk.

Her child had been taken into care after the incident at the hotel.

Mr Harrington said: “She does have issues with drink, finally the penny has dropped. She now recognises that problem and is doing something about it.

“This officer had come to help her because she was not in the condition to look after her child.

“She is very sorry and remorseful and accepts that the officer should not have had to deal with that at work. She is mortified about the way she treated him.

“While a shod foot has been used, that has to be set against the fact that she is a slight lady, and she was handcuffed at the time.

“She was upset about the removal of her son.

“Social services are involved and she has been working with them, Alcoholics Anonymous and her doctor.”

Magistrate William Murphy imposed the suspended sentence.

He said: “We believe these offences cross the custody threshold because you were drunk in charge of a child at the hotel.”

Griffiths, of The Broadway, Brighton, was ordered to complete ten rehabilitation sessions with probation and to pay £85 costs.

She must also pay a total of £115 in compensation to PC Parris.