AN Evesham teenager who hurled racial abuse and terrorised residents has been spared a prison sentence after revealing she was pregnant.

Excessive alcohol and a life of boredom drove Rebecca Taylor, of Port Street, to commit the crimes, said defence lawyer Dale Sheehan at the Worcester Magistrates' Court hearing last Friday.

But now she has vowed to give up alcohol, has got a job at a snooker club and is looking forward to raising her unborn baby, Mr Sheehan added.

Taylor, aged 18, had spent the night of Saturday, September 4, 2004 at an Evesham nightclub with friends, said prosecution solicitor Helen Harmeston.

"She got extremely drunk and when she left the club she met with more friends in the Port Street area where a fight was beginning to brew," said Miss Harmeston. Police were called to the scene by concerned residents saying a gang of drunken youths was creating havoc, she added.

Miss Harmeston said Taylor, along with other youths, kicked down a resident's door then proceeded to spout racial and religious abuse at innocent bystander Thobela Theo Dingayo.

Mr Sheehan said Taylor had never committed a crime in the past and promised not to do so in the future.

"She's very remorseful for her actions," he said. "She's had rather a sad and depressing life with little to interest or stimulate her.

"But things have changed completely for the better. She has part-time employment and she also has an unplanned pregnancy. These two instances have changed her philosophy and outlook and she has vowed not to drink alcohol to protect her and her baby."

But magistrates' chairman Richard Weatherill said: "There is no reason why the residents of Evesham should have to put up with this sort of behaviour and I don't think alcohol consumption offers any excuse."

For one count of racial and religious harassment she was sentenced to 100 hours community service and ordered to pay her victim £50 compensation.

For affray, she was ordered to do 100 hours community service to run concurrently, and for criminal damage she was told to serve 100 hours community service, again to run concurrently, and fined £100.

Taylor had admitted the offences at a hearing in to last November.