A RECOVERING alcoholic has won a judge’s praise for the way she has fought her addiction and saved herself from jail.

District judge Adrian Lower gave Caroline Diane Moynihan three months to reform herself when she pleaded guilty to spitting at a police officer and at a tiny child.

He deferred sentence and promised her she would not be jailed if she tackled her drinking.

When she returned to court, her solicitor Chris McGrogan described how she had completed the first three parts of a detoxification programme, was now attending five Zoom sessions a week for Narcotics Anonymous which helps those addicted to drink as well as drugs and was also working with a domestic and sexual abuse charity to tackle underlying issues in her life.

The judge told Moynihan: “What you have done is impressive. You have worked hard to deal with the issues in your life.

"You have taken up the opportunity I gave you.”

“It is not many times where I see people in court who have made such a start as well as you have to turn your life around.”

He gave her a 12-month community order with 100 hours’ unpaid work. She must also pay £100 compensation to the child, £150 to the police officer, a £95 statutory surcharge and £85 prosecution costs.

Moynihan, 43, of Burtonstone Lane, York, lives on benefits.

York Magistrates Court heard that Moynihan's spittle landed on the police officer and on the child's pushchair on November 8.