MAGISTRATES have declared Ely woman Audrey Harris to be an habitual drunkard– making it an offence for her to buy alcohol for the next three years. South African Harris – also known as Audrey Gill – has around 50 convictions for offences involving booze,

MAGISTRATES have declared Ely woman Audrey Harris to be an habitual drunkard- making it an offence for her to buy alcohol for the next three years.

South African Harris - also known as Audrey Gill - has around 50 convictions for offences involving booze, being drunk and disorderly, and making racial remarks when worse for wear.

She is currently serving a 12-week jail sentence for a string of alcohol related offences committed earlier this year.

Under the terms of habitual drunkard order, 60-year-old Harris is banned from buying or acquiring alcohol for the next three years.

It is also an offence for licensees to knowingly sell Harris any alcohol within that period.

A letter and photograph of Harris has been sent to licensees in the Ely and Cambridge district, explaining the order.

On Thursday Harris appeared before city magistrates and admitted being drunk and disorderly at Ely police station on March 28.

"She arrived in a drunken state, she fell asleep in the seats at the front of the station," said Laura Mardell, prosecuting.

"Officers tried to rouse her; she slurred her words and was shouting. It was decided to get her a cup of tea to rouse her. She drank the tea and then threw her paper cup at a member of the public who had come in to report an incident."

Harris, of Lantern Court, High Street, Ely, is in jail after admitting a racially aggravated assault and a public order offence committed on March 31. She had also admitted using racially aggravated threatening behaviour and being drunk on the highway on March 18, and being drunk and disorderly on March 14.

Solicitor Nicholas Barnes said almost all of Harris' 51 convictions related to alcohol.

"It is a sad fact that she is well known to this court and Cambridge court," he said. "In the main, she has committed lower level offences relating to being drunk and disorderly, and drunk and incapable. The courts have come to the end of their tether."

Harris was fined �150, and given one day's detention in lieu of payment.