A FAMILY wedding ended in a court appearance for a woman who spat at a man and pulled out the hair of a Ferrybridge Hotel employee.

Linda Dallas, whose partner was the father of the bride, took offence when she was asked to move from where she was sat at the wedding.

She then left to go to a pub and came back to the party drunk.

Dallas, 49, of Gilmerton Dykes Gardens, Edinburgh, previously admitted that on May 6 at Ferrybridge Hotel, Main Street, North Queensferry, she assaulted a man and seized him by the arm and spat in his face.

She also admitted that on May 7, at the Ferrybridge Hotel, she assaulted an employee and seized her by the hair and then pulled her to the ground by her hair, all to her injury and assaulted two constables, then in the execution of their duty and spat at them.

Depute fiscal Jane Rennie told Dunfermline Sheriff Court on Wednesday: "At about 7pm, the accused approached the front of the venue where the bride's brother was smoking.

"She started to shout and swear and make derogatory comments about the bride.

"The man challenged her and told her she was out of order and she responded by grabbing his arm and spitting on his face.

"The accused was removed by her partner.

"At about 12.45am, a member of staff was closing up when she saw the accused at the side door.

"She told her that she was not allowed in the premises and she would have to leave.

"The witness was locking the door and the accused grabbed her by the hair.

"Dallas was staggering because she was drunk and effectively took the witness with her as she fell to the ground.

"The employee managed to get free and contacted the police."

When officers attended the premises, it was quite clear to them that Dallas was drunk, the court heard. As they cautioned her and attempted to put her into the police van, she struggled with the two officers and spat in their faces.

The court was told that the bride's brother was uninjured but the Ferrybridge Hotel staff member lost some of her hair from the incident and complained of soreness to her scalp.

Defence solicitor Angus McLennan said: "It was an eventful day for all involved.

"Ms Dallas has no recollection of what happened. The trigger for this seems to be that she has been asked to move positions and she was already sitting with people she knew.

"She then left the wedding and went to a public house.

"It seems that alcohol is a coping mechanism for her and this incident has caused problems with her family."

Sheriff Alison McKay said: "It tells me in this report that you regret this incident and I do hope that is the case.

"It seems that you have taken out your displeasure on an employee and spitting on people is particularly horrible."

Dallas was placed on a community payback order with 12 months' supervision.

Sheriff McKay said her reasoning for not ordering Dallas to pay compensation to her victims was because she had joint benefits with her partner, and if she was fined she would be punishing him also.