A Paget woman admitted to charges of drunkenness and prowling when she appeared in Magistrates’ Court.Melissa Ray, 43, of Barnes Valley Lane, pleaded guilty to being drunk and incapable of taking care of herself following a June 10 altercation with a taxi driver.She also pleaded guilty to a separate charge of prowling on August 26, but the Crown offered no evidence on a charge of entering the property as a trespasser.Prosecutor Tawana Tannock said in relation to the first matter that officers had received a report of a taxi driver who was having problems with a passenger.The taxi driver told police she had stopped her vehicle on Middle Road because the passenger, Ray, was using abusive and offensive language towards her. When prompted for payment for the ride, the driver said Ray threw an unknown amount of cash at her and called her a b****.The officers who arrived at the scene found Ray visibly intoxicated, wobbling and stumbling around. She repeatedly tried to walk away from the officers and did not seem to know where she was.She was subsequently arrested for being drunk and incapable, but continued to struggle and curse at the officers.Regarding the prowling matter, Ms Tannock told the court that Ray had sent a voice mail to the complainant saying that she was inside his Fort Hill Road, Devonshire apartment.He responded by text message that he wanted her to leave, and then contacted a neighbour for her assistance.The neighbour went to investigate and found Ray sitting on the complainant’s steps, and subsequently called the police.When police arrived at the scene at 11.40pm, they found Ray attempting to leave the area in a taxi. She told the officers that she was inside the apartment, but left as soon as she was told to.Ms Tannock noted in court that these offences occurred while Ray was on probation for a suspended sentence of 24 months for driving while impaired, and that the defendant has a history of alcohol-related offences.Defence lawyer Richard Horseman said that Ray was extremely sorry for the offences, and said the defendant suffers from alcoholism.He urged that the matter should be sent to drug court, saying: “There is no doubt Ms Ray has a serious substance abuse problem with alcohol. She could use the extra guidance that drug court can give her.”Regarding the prowling charge, he suggested that the matter be dismissed, saying that his client was not waiting to burglarise the home, only waiting for a taxi.Magistrate Khamisi Tokunbo sent both matters to drug court.