Peter WalshA 20-year-old woman who assaulted a door supervisor working in the city's club land could not remember the attack or being arrested because she was so drunk, a court has heard.Peter Walsh

A 20-year-old woman who assaulted a door supervisor working in the city's club land could not remember the attack or being arrested because she was so drunk, a court has heard.

Alisha Staff, of Woodward Road, Old Catton, Norwich, appeared at Norwich Magistrates Court yesterdaywhere she pleaded guilty to assaulting Alan Grey by beating on January 24.

Denis King, prosecuting, said that Mr Grey, a door supervisor at Bar X on Prince of Wales Road had had been working on January 24 and first noticed Staff just after midnight.

He said: 'He was downstairs, described the establishment as fairly quiet with just seven to eight customers in the bar area. He became aware Miss Staff seemed to be swinging punches at two or three other females and said she was swearing and shouting. He said her behaviour was 'crazy''.

The court heard that Mr Grey tried to intervene between the group but was then punched by Staff's 'clenched right hand' in the head resulting in a centimetre long cut on the bridge of his nose and a subsequent headache the following day.

Staff fell to the floor following the altercation and was still swearing, shouting, and acting aggressively before being arrested.

Mr King said that when interviewed Staff could not recall what happened or being arrested.

James Burrows, mitigating, said that Staff pleaded guilty to the offence at the first opportunity and accepted herself that she has a 'drink problem' which had been brought about following the death of her mother last year.

He said: 'The onset of the problem was about 12 months ago her mother passed away. She was only 46. Her mother had also been battling a drink problem and Miss Staff thinks that's what killed her mother.'

Mr Burrows said that when staff goes out with friends she 'drinks to excess' and is unable to remember what happened the day before. He said: 'This is what clearly happened in Bar X.'

He added that his client was remorseful and not proud of being in court for the offence, but said she had already sought help for her drink problem from the Matthew Project and would also be receiving help through the group relation to the death of her mother.

Brian Winchester, chairman of the bench, said he was pleased that Staff was trying to address her problems.

He fined her �50 for the offence and ordered her to pay the victim �100 compensation. She must also pay a �15 victim surcharge.

Have you been the victim of an assault in the city's nightclub district? Call reporter Peter Walsh on 01603 772436 or email peter.walsh@archant.co.uk