Lincolnshire, England - Magistrates were forced to bar a woman from her own trial - because she turned up too drunk to make a plea. 

Julie Agnes Brophy (40) was expelled from Lincoln Magistrates' Court where she was due to stand trial for common assault. But the bench decided to proceed with the trial and convicted Brophy in her absence.

At an earlier hearing Brophy pleaded guilty to making hoax 999 calls.

She has also pleaded guilty to 15 other charges which include handling stolen property and causing harassment. "She is here in body but not in spirit," said Brophy's solicitor Gordon Holt.