Officer tells court: ‘I’d rather be hit than spat at’
MAGISTRATES HEAR OF DRUNK WOMAN’S VILE ATTACK ON PC
A POLICE officer spoke of her disgust after a drunk woman caught ranting in the street spat at her.
Caroline Sanderson, of Cross Green Road in Dalton, was heard shouting abuse as she banged on the front door of her ex partner’s mother.
She was arrested and spat at the officer as she was transported to the police station.
The PC expressed her horror at being assaulted – and said she’d rather be hit than spat at.
Sanderson pleaded guilty to assault by beating of an emergency worker, being drunk and disorderly in public and committing a further offence while subject to a conditional discharge.
Police arived at the address in Manor Farm Drive, Batley, shortly before 3pm on October 28.
Alex Bozman, prosecuting, said: “Sanderson was banging on the door and shouting abuse towards the occupant, the mum of her former partner.
“She was showing signs of being in drink and smelt heavily of intoxicants.
“She’d been there for 15 minutes before police got there and was scaring the occupant of that premises.”
The 52-year-old continued to be uncooperative with police and started swearing at them, Kirklees magistrates were told. During her journey to the police station Sanderson spat at a female constable, making contact with her body armour.
The officer said in a victim impact statement read out to the Huddersfield court that she had warned Sanderson several times to calm down.
She said: “She spat directly at me, causing the spittle to hit me in my chest.
“I was disgusted. I’d done nothing to warrant this.
“I’d rather be hit than spat at. “Nobody has the right to assault me, particularly in this way as I’m susceptible to infections.”
Magistrates were told that Sanderson had drink-related offences on her record.
The new offences put her in breach of a 12-month conditional discharge imposed last April for using threatening behaviour.
Jonathan Slawinski, mitigating, said: “She’s utterly disgusted with her actions.
“Thankfully there was a lack of injury to the officer.”
Magistrates sentenced Sanderson to a community order with 20 rehabilitation activity days and six months of alcohol treatment.
She was ordered to pay the officer £100 compensation as well as £100 fine, £85 court costs and £90 victim surcharge.