Mother, 53, refused to give breath test because she was already in trouble for hurling bottle at eight-year-old and grappling with Virgin Atlantic staff on London-Florida fight

Louise Dixon, 53, was traced back to her south Wales home by police earlier this year after she was seen driving 'erratically' by officers

A mother refused to give a breath test to police because she was already in trouble for hurling a bottle at an eight-year-old and grappling with cabin crew on a transatlantic flight.

Louise Dixon, 53, was traced back to her south Wales home by police in November after she was seen driving 'erratically' by officers.

When they arrived they found her slurring her words and an empty bottle of wine on her kitchen table.

Dixon, who was given a suspended sentence over a drunken incident on a Virgin Atlantic flight from London to Florida in 2019, blew over the limit on her first test.

However officers were unable to take a second. Dixon, of Ogmore-by-Sea, near Bridgend, admitted failing to provide a specimen for analysis.

But she was spared a prison term again this week, after a judge heard she was working to address her alcohol addiction.

At Newport Crown Court, Recorder Paul Lewis QC, told her: 'Your offences arose from outrageous behaviour on your part on a transatlantic flight from Miami to Heathrow.

'You were drunk, you were disruptive, you threw a bottle of water which struck a young boy, you grappled with one passenger and raised your fist towards another.

'You were fortunate on that occasion not to lose your liberty.

'You were later arrested and failed to provide a proper sample for analysis.. I am satisfied that was a deliberate failure on your part because you knew you had been drinking.

Dixon was given a suspended sentence over a drunken incident on a Virgin Atlantic flight from London to Florida in 2019

'Efforts have been made to try and help you with your addiction and so far it appears without substantial success, but you are making efforts to address your alcohol addiction and you are determined to beat it.'

The court heard how in her 2019 offence, for which she was given a two year suspended sentence, Dixon threw a bottle of water at an eight-year-old boy, and grappled with staff on the Virgin Atlantic flight from London to Florida.

The court court heard she had drunk half a bottle of brandy and two beers before boarding the flight in 2019.

Dixon then lashed out at other passengers in an alcohol-fuelled rage before grappling with staff who restrained her for six hours.

But the court heard she was rearrested in November after being caught drink-driving. 

She was followed by police after they saw her silver Ford Focus driving erratically and swerving on the road.

Officers traced her to her home and found her slurring her words and an empty bottle of wine on her kitchen table.

Dixon was traced by police after they saw her silver Ford Focus driving erratically and swerving on the road 

She was breathalysed and found to be 121mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath - the legal limit is 35.

Dixon was arrested and taken to a police station but officers were unable to obtain a second breath sample.

Prosecutor Martha Smith-Higgins said Dixon had breached her suspended sentence by reoffending. 

Abigail Jackson, defending, said Dixon was working to address her alcohol problems.

She said: 'Ms Dixon is described as a caring mother who provides significant family support.' 

Dixon was handed another suspended sentence and given a 90 day alcohol monitoring order as well as a 15 day rehabilitation activity.

She was also banned from driving for three years.