A PUB landlady suffered a smashed wrist after she was allegedly pushed down some stone steps by a "drunken" regular, a jury heard.

Burnley Crown Court was told trouble erupted at the Jolly Hatters, Colne, over the karaoke machine and as Jeanette Hodkinson, 40, was being thrown out.

After the alleged assault, the defendant went back in the pub, asked for her bottle of WKD back and slung beer towards the landlady's partner, it is alleged.

Hodkinson, of Tennyson Street, Colne, denies inflicting grievous bodily harm in January last year.

Patrick Williamson, prosecuting, told the court the defendant had been left on her own in the pub after an afternoon quiz. The complainant, Julie Rayson, was sitting at a table, Hodkinson approached and the group was laughing and joking.

About 9pm the atmosphere changed, when the defendant wanted to sing on the karaoke but was told somebody else was having a turn first. The disc jockey and Julie Rayson joked about it but Hodkinson became abusive and was told to sit down.

Hodkinson was described as 'very drunk' and Julie Rayson removed her bottle of WKD. The defendant demanded the bottle back, the landlady told her she was leaving and Hodkinson grabbed Julie Rayson's hair.

She then swung a bottle towards the complainant but Julie Rayson fended it away, the bottle was taken away and Hodkinson was walked towards the door.

Mr Williamson said outside the pub the defendant was told she was being barred but said she was going to go back inside and get her bottle. She then pushed the landlady for no reason and Julie Rayson fell backwards over some stone steps.

She was unable to break her fall and landed with her right arm underneath her. She also hit her head. When she tried to get up, she was in excruciating pain and she was taken to hospital.

The prosecutor said after the alleged push, the defendant went back in the pub and asked for her bottle of WKD. The landlady's partner poured it down the sink and she threw beer at him. When police arrived, the defendant at first said she wanted to make a complaint against Julie Rayson. Officers noticed the defendant showed signs of intoxication.

She was later interviewed at Colne police station, agreed an argument had developed over the karaoke but claimed it was she who had been joking. She admitted being abusive but denied she was drunk.

Mr Williamson said Hodkinson claimed Julie Rayson had fallen down the stairs and said at the time she had been trying to get herself out of a headlock.

The defendant said she was acting in self defence and that Miss Rayson's fall down the stairs was an accident.

(Proceeding)