An Easton woman tried to bite a police officer’s hand after assaulting him at a takeaway.
Samantha Upton, of Baptist Mills Court, swore at the officer and kicked him at Pizza Corner on Church Road.
The 27-year-old was handed a one-year community order on Tuesday (August 18) at Bristol Magistrates’ Court, after admitting assault and criminal damage to her police cell.
Prosecutor Laura Opie said: “Two officers were on mobile patrol on March 15, when they were asked to attend Pizza Corner because of a disturbance.
“When they arrived everyone pointed at Upton, and when the officers went to detain her, she violently kicked out with both legs at PC Brett’s shin.
“She did this numerous times, causing him pain. He brought her to the floor to restrain her, and she was handcuffed.”
As the two officers took her to the police van, Upton called PC Brett a “horrible little c***”.
She had to be restrained again, continuing to call PC Brett a “c***” and behaving aggressively.
Upton kicked the front light of the van, which was not damaged, before being driven to Patchway police station.
Ms Opie added: “In the police cell, she spat at the cell floor and at the wall.”
The defendant then tried to “bite down” on the hand of an officer, who responded by spraying PAVA in her face.
In his victim statement, PC Brett said: “I was called to help a member of the public who was having his property damaged.
“Upon having the suspect pointed out, I was assaulted when I detained her. I can still feel pain in my left shin.
“Sadly it seems to be the norm for police to be routinely assaulted in the course of our duties, which are all in the name of protecting the public.
“I feel sad that I have been assaulted again.”
Upton, who has a previous conviction for battery, was in a “highly emotional state” at the time of the attack, according to her representative Debbie Clarke.
Ms Clarke said: “Her father was ill with cancer and has since passed away. She was also on medication for mental health problems.
“She resorted to alcohol to help deal with her emotional state in relation to her father. It didn’t mix well with her medication.
“She remembers very little of what happened, but does remember that when she was in the holding cell, she said she desperately needed to use the toilet and was refused.
“This is not an excuse but does perhaps help explain why she acted in the way she did.”
Deputy District Judge Kevin Hill ordered Upton to pay £250 in compensation for the officer and complete a two-month curfew and 15 days of rehab.
He told her: “This was an attack on an officer doing his job. You kicked him a number of times. You had your shoe on.
“You know that it is not the way to behave. It causes public expense, distress to people who witness such incidents and the victims.”
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DDJ Hill added he took into account Upton having few previous convictions and her family circumstances.
“I take into account your lack of previous convictions and your family circumstances.”
Upton must adhere to the curfew from 8pm until 8am for the next two months.
