A WOMAN who got so drunk she was unable to look after a young child later admitted to police officers: "I've f**ked up this time."

On Thursday at Alloa Sheriff Court, Kellie Marie Robertson pleaded guilty to wilfully neglecting the eight-year-old on December 12 last year by drinking so much alcohol that she was unable to care for the youngster. The girl, who cannot be identified due to legal reasons, was required to leave the house unaccompanied and during the hours of darkness.

Fiscal depute Ruaraidh Ferguson told the court that Robertson, 40, had been drinking throughout the day of the incident and by 7pm she was significantly drunk.

The youngster left the property in Tullibody's Delph Road to make her way to another house nearby where she knew the occupants.

The primary school pupil walked past an open pond and along an unlit path in the dark to seek assistance.

The occupants of the other house took the young girl in and when they eventually went to check on the accused, they found her extremely drunk in her living room. Robertson was said to have slurred speech and was incomprehensible.

The accused complied with the police when they arrived, admitting: "I've f**ked up this time."

Defending, Stan Quirk claimed that his client has since engaged with services, including Signpost Recovery and counselling via a baptist church.

Sheriff David Mackie noted that Robertson seemed to be addressing her "underlying issues".

He told her: "I'm sorry that you find yourself in court over this as you were going through a difficult time."

The accused was sentenced to a Community Payback Order with 160 hours of unpaid work to be completed within six months.