A drunk woman found face down in the street while caring for two children has avoided jail – but been ordered to address her alcohol issues.

Toni Ashby was unable to speak properly and had to prop herself up on a car after officers arrived at the scene in Herne Bay.

Police were called to the area at about 10pm on September 11 last year after concerned members of the public dialled 999 because she was so intoxicated.

A court heard officers found her stumbling around in a "dire condition" on a busy road late at night after she drank wine earlier that evening.

Ashby, of Queen Street, Herne Bay, kept falling over and had to hold onto the vehicle to stay on her feet.

The 36-year-old was later charged with two counts of being drunk in charge of a child.

She pleaded guilty to the offences when she appeared at Margate Magistrates Court in February.

At the time, prosecutor Dylan Bradshaw said: "It was about 10pm and a member of the public called police as she was lying face down on the street.

"It was a 999 call as she was in dire condition and was stumbling around, falling over and had to hold on to the vehicle. The police took control."

Magistrates were also told Ashby, after sobering up, told officers she had been out for a meal at a Turkish restaurant and had drunk wine on the evening in question, but was suffering some memory loss as a result.

The bench was also told Ashby had previously been in an abusive relationship and had mental health issues as a result, and had developed an issue with alcohol.

However, they were also told Ashby had since taken steps to address her drink problem, was seeking help and was very sorry and remorseful for what happened.

At the time, sentencing was adjourned to allow probation officers to carry out an all-options pre-sentencing report on her.

She returned to be sentenced at the same court on Monday.

Magistrates jailed Ashby for a month, but suspended the term for 18 months.

She was also ordered complete an alcohol treatement requirement for six months, attend 40 rehabilitation sessions and pay a victim surcharge of £154 and £85 costs.