A MUM has been convicted of assaulting four members of staff in front of children at a Southampton school while under the influence of alcohol.

Kellie James pushed workers at Hightown Primary School as they tried to calm her down when she began aggressively banging on doors and windows.

The 29-year-old knocked one woman to the floor as staff attempted to coax her from the building.

Foul-mouthed Once back outside the school after she had been arrested, James then launched into a foul-mouthed tirade within earshot of youngsters, and racially abused a police officer.

James appeared at Southampton Magistrates’ Court after admitting four charges of assault by beating and another of using |racially-aggravated threatening words or behaviour.

Police were called to the Tunstall Road school, in Thornhill, at 5.20pm on November 7 following two 999 calls from staff, who said they had been assaulted.

Workers at the school told officers James appeared to have been drinking when she became aggressive, but attempts to placate her failed.

In one classroom she grabbed a woman much smaller than herself and threw her to the ground, before pushing a teacher.

They said staff repeatedly asked her to calm down and tried to lead her back out of the school, but without success. Police arrested James on suspicion of assault, but while they were waiting to take her into custody she was again verbally abusive, including making racially offensive comments to a PC.

James, whose address was given as Old School Close, Holbury, pleaded guilty to assaulting Sandy Ainslie, Sheena Salter, Michael Payne and Natalie Taylor.

Magistrates gave her a 12-month community supervision order. She was also ordered to pay £85 costs and £60 in victim surcharges.

After the sentencing, a spokesman for Hightown Primary said: “This was a very distressing incident, and one that everyone at the school wants to put behind them.

“Behaviour like this is completely unacceptable and should not be tolerated by anyone, especially hard working staff who only want the best for the school and the children. “Thankfully this was a very unusual occurrence.

“As always the safety of staff and pupils at the school is our main concern.”