A defendant who turned up to York Crown Court drunk was sent off to jail without being sentenced.

Dawn Ann Cain, 34, was due to learn her fate at noon yesterday for using an imitation firearm with intent to make police fear unlawful violence outside her home in Starkey Crescent, Tang Hall, York.

But at noon, her barrister Taryn Turner told the Honorary Recorder of York, Judge Paul Hoffman: "She arrived, apparently sober, shortly after 10 o'clock and was sent away. Instead of passing the time at a coffee bar, I rather suspect she has been to a different sort of bar."

The defence barrister said she had had difficulty getting instructions from her client after her return to court shortly before noon.

Cain was called into the dock, where the judge told her: "You are remanded in custody. Come back when you are sober."

"I am sober," Cain called out and tried to resist two dock officers' attempts to take her down to the court cells, but they secured her and took her down the dock steps. She was expected to be sentenced today.

Updated: 12:26 Wednesday, May 29, 2002