Woman is jailed for racist abuse of police officer She claimed he was laughing at her

AWOMAN has been jailed after making repeated racist comments to a police officer - she said he was laughing at her.

Michaela Smith, 38, was being transported to custody following a different incident on February 18.

Whilst on route, Smith, of Rochdale, launched an abusive tirade against the officer calling him a ‘dirty P*** b******’, Manchester Magistrates Court heard.

Throughout the journey she continued making remarks to the officer before she was duly arrested for racial abuse.

In her police interview she accepted making the comments and stated it was because he was ‘ laughing at her’.

Pleading guilty to an offence of racially aggravated harassment, Smith was jailed for six weeks and ordered to pay £50 compensation.

Outlining the facts of the case, prosecutor Steve Woodman said: “On Saturday morning at around 5am, PC Ali Farook had cause with a number of other officers to attend an incident which led to the defendant being arrested.

“He transported her to custody and whilst on route she aimed abuse at him and called him a ‘dirty P*** b******’ all the way to the police station.

“She was arrested for racial abuse.

“She accepted during the journey to calling him a ‘dirty P*** b******’ and said he was laughing at her.”

Smith was said to have previous convictions for 95 offences, including recent similar racially aggravated harassment offences.

Mitigating, defence lawyer Richard Birtwistle said: “The commission of the offence has its origins almost a week ago.

“What she was attempting to explain to officers is that she was the victim of quite a violent assault, she is still carrying injuries now.

“She explained the perpetrator of the assault was a black male, though she doesn’t seek to justify actions.

“This doesn’t permit to transfer the malice from the fallout of the incident to the officer that dealt with her.

“She attempted to explain the original assault and was met with an element of cynicism on the part of the officer.

“She tried to show him her injuries and was met with a rather sceptical attitude and says he was laughing at her.

“She responded in rather ugly fashion, it was unedifying conduct.”

Mr Birtwistle stated that his client has ‘entrenched drug misuse issues’ and added that she was not charged with the original incident for which the police were initially called out for.

Smith, of Royds Street, Milnrow, was sentenced to six weeks imprisonment and ordered to pay £50 compensation to the officer.