Boy aged 3 phoned police to report his drunken babysitter

The child made the emergency call shortly after midnight and answered the door when police officers arrived at the scene, a court heard yesterday.

The officers found Jacqueline Robertson, 39, who was looking after the child, drunk, having downed more than a bottle of wine.

When the officers eventually tried to remove the child for his safety, Robertson lashed out and hurled a glass at one of them, narrowly missing the female officer.

Robertson, of Dunkeld Road, Perth, yesterday admitted assaulting WPC Isobel Strawson by throwing a glass at her in Kenmore Street, Aberfeldy, on 16 October.

Fiscal depute Rebecca Kynaston told Perth Sheriff Court: "On 16 October, police officers were on patrol when a call was received by the force control room on the 999 system.

"The child was stating that (the woman looking after him] was requiring help. The boy is three years of age. Officers were instructed to attend at the locus to find out what was going on.

"It was past midnight," Ms Kynaston went on. "The front door was locked, and when they rang the doorbell the three-year-old came to the door. When he was informed it was the police, he unlocked the door for them.

"They shouted that it was the police, but there was no immediate reply. The accused was found sitting in the living-room and officers asked about her wellbeing. She suggested to them that the child had gained access to her mobile phone.

"Officers asked why a child of his age was not in bed at that time, and she stated she was unable to get him to bed.

"It was obvious the accused had been drinking," Ms Kynaston said. However, at that stage the officers had no immediate concern for the child's safety and left the house.

She said another call was made to the 999 system - this time from a female caller - and when officers returned they were told they were not needed.

The officers told Robertson she and the child looked exhausted and advised them to go to bed. They noted that a TV was blaring and the youngster appeared to be playing computer games.

Ms Kynaston said Robertson became aggressive when they suggested the child should be sent to a relative's house to spend the night because of her condition.

The court was told that when Robertson started shouting and swearing at officers, the boy became upset and was "screaming".

"She picked up a glass from the kitchen area. She threw it towards the police constable. The glass hit the ground near her and smashed on the stairs.

"Back-up was called for, given the demeanour of the accused. She was taken to police HQ in Perth." She told officers she could not remember throwing the glass.

Solicitor David Holmes, defending, said: "It was a wine glass. She had been drinking wine and that explains her regrettable behaviour. She had taken more than a bottle of wine.

"She was well into a second bottle when this took place," Mr Holmes added. "She realises the trouble she has caused and doesn't drink to that level anymore. She accepts it wasn't the first occasion she had been drinking a large amount of wine."

Sheriff Robert McCreadie said: "She was responsible for the care of a three-year-old child."

The sheriff deferred sentence for a month and called for social work reports.