A FRAIL 94-year-old woman was punched repeatedly in the face by her drunken daughter in a "despicable" attack, a court heard.

Magistrates were told that the attack, in December, was the third time Patricia Duxbury had assaulted her mother in the past two-and-a-half years.

But, after the case, Gladys Duxbury, of Knuzden, said her 61-year-old daughter was a wonderful person when not under the influence of drink.

The Blackburn court was told that Duxbury had drunk herself into a stupor and started shouting abuse at her mother, who had just returned from a day centre.

When Mrs Duxbury tried to phone her son Colin, her daughter became violent and snatched the phone from her mother's hand, injuring her arm, before ripping a panic alarm from around her neck.

Philippa White, prosecuting, said Duxbury fell to the floor because of her intoxicated state, but continued shouting at her mother, saying she should be in a home and she wished she would die.

Mrs White added: "She eventually got up and started punching Gladys repeatedly about the head.

"Gladys was very scared and actually thought her daughter might kill her. She describes her as wild' and crazy'."

Duxbury eventually went to bed, and her brother Colin arrived at the house and called the police, the court was told.

She revealed that Duxbury was convicted of assaulting her mum in January 2005 when she was given a conditional discharge for six months, and was given a police caution for assaulting Gladys in August 2003. Duxbury pleaded guilty to assault and was bailed for the preparation of a pre-sentence report. A charge of witness intimidation was withdrawn.

Jonathan Taylor, defending, said his client accepted she had behaved in an "appalling" manner. He added: "It is difficult for her to recollect exactly what happened, but since the incident she has not consumed any alcohol. What is clear from this, and previous incidents, is that she has an alcohol problem."