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Judge Nash hits out at 'endemic behaviour' of drunk women

by Annette Wilson

A judge known for his sharp tongue and withering comments has hit out at women who end up "completely plastered, utterly objectionable and violent" after evenings out with friends.

Judge Timothy Nash's remarks were directed at 22-year-old Susan Bruce who was at Canterbury Crown Court to be sentenced for being drunk and disorderly in April and breaching a suspended sentence.

He said the behaviour was "endemic" and diverted police officers who could be better occupied.

It is the same judge who last year told three women he was jailing they had behaved like a "bunch of over-the-hill slappers" in robbing a homeless alcoholic in Canterbury city centre.

On that occasion he was on the receiving end of a public rap by his own peers as a judge at the Court of Appeal took exception and warned him about his use of language.

Bruce had been out on a hen night in Rochester but had been thrown out of a club. Police found her on the floor in a doorway. She had no money and no way of getting home so officers left her in a bus shelter with advice to wait for a limousine due to pick up the hen party.

But police were called back because Bruce was causing trouble for club door staff as she tried to get in to find her friends. She was arrested when she became aggressive, shouting at police officers.

Judge Nash described her as a very stupid girl, adding: "This sort of behaviour is endemic. These girls go out with the best of intentions and end up completely plastered and are utterly objectionable and violent in public places because alcohol is freely available 24 hours a day."

Bruce, of Ulcombe Gardens, Canterbury has a string of convictions going back 2001 for drink-related offences, including assault on police and affray and appeared at the same court in October last year for wounding when she was given 12 months, suspended for two years with a condition she underwent alcohol treatment.

Judge Nash ordered the suspended sentence should continue until it expires in 2010 and ordered a 56-day curfew when Bruce remains indoors between 8pm and 8am and is electronically tagged.

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