Woman avoids jail after kicking officer

A woman who kicked a police officer in the chest while handcuffed outside a Sunderland pub has avoided a return to prison.

Laura Metcalf pleaded guilty the common assault of an emergency worker South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court.

Metcalf, of Dene Street in Silks worth, also admitted the charge of being drunk and disorderly at the time of attacking the officer at the hearing yesterday.She was given a 12 month community order with a curfew between the hours of 7pm and 7am and warned that a breach of this could result in a spell behind bars.

The attack took place at about 9.25pm on Friday, July 24 after door staff at Sinatra’s pub in Sunderland city centre flagged down police after having problems with Metcalf.

The court heard that the 33-year-old was shouting and swearing as she was handcuffed and then proceeded to kick the police officer in the torso.

She inflicted no injuries but the court was told that the officer was in some discomfort at the time of the incident. Met calf was released from prison at the end of May for a separate offence and is on licence until September 6.

The Magistrates were told that Metcalf had been making good process with the probation service since her release.

When summing up, the Chairman of the bench said: “I do not wish to interfere with the good work you have been doing with the probation service but I am in a position of great difficulty.”

Referring to Metcalf ’s repeated reoffending, the chairman added: “This has got to stop or else you are going back to prison.”