THREE people have been banned from all licensed premises for their part in a fight outside a Hereford supermarket which police struggled to bring under control.

Zoe Blackwell, 39, and Nickalea Deacon, 41, admitted affray when they appeared at Hereford Crown Court.

Blackwell, of Montgomery Street, Whitecross, Hereford, also pleaded guilty to two counts of common assault on two different police constables, while Deacon, of Mayflower Drive, Saxon Gate, Hereford, pleaded guilty to one count of common assault against another PC.

James Emery, 21, of Kilvert Road, Newton Farm, pleaded guilty to one count of affray at another hearing, the court heard.

Ian Ball, prosecuting, told the court CCTV footage showed a group of 12 or more “milling around” the Tesco store on Bewell Street at 10pm on December 23, before violence broke out.

Blackwell was seen emerging from behind the pillar and struck another woman, Melanie Kerton, while she had a bottle in her hand.

Once police arrived, Blackwell kicked one police officer in the knee, the court heard, causing grazing and redness.

She also punched another in the nose, causing bruising and swelling.

Deacon had kicked out at Ms Kerton to the back area, the court heard. She also spat at PC Lowe.

Emery was caught on CCTV fighting with an unknown male, Mr Ball said. He said in a police interview he had walked past the Bowling Green with friend, Ms Kerton, and there was an argument going on. He later got involved and had tried to stop his friend being attacked and threw anunknown male individual against a shopping trolley.

Officers had “great difficulty” controlling the situation until more police turned up.

In an interview on December 24, Blackwell said she did not recall anything about the evening and had no idea why she behaved like she did, Mr Ball said. She was “ashamed and disgusted” with herself.

Emery had consumed three litres of Frosty Jack cider.

Mark Thompson, defending Deacon, said she had an established mental health condition of PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder).

Judge Pearce-Higgins sentenced Blackwell to a 12-month custodial sentence suspended for two years. She was also made subject to a 12-month supervision order.

Deacon was sentenced to nine months in custody, suspended for two years, and Emery was sentenced to a 12-month community order, a 12-month supervision order and 125 hours of unpaid work.