Mother-of-two from Burnley bit police officer's calf and spat in her face (From Burnley and Pendle Citizen)

Mother-of-two from Burnley bit police officer's calf and spat in her face

8:00pm Monday 11th March 2013 in News

A MOTHER-of-two bit a police officer and spat in her face, a court heard.

Burnley magistrates were told how, as Sharon Elizabeth Thompson was being detained, she started to bite the officer's calf.

She had grabbed the officer's leg, would not let go and was pulled to her feet by the victim and a colleague.

Thompson, 45, then spat at the officer, hitting her just above the left eye.

A large amount of saliva ran down into the officer's eye and she couldn't see for a short time.

The defendant, said to have been ‘extremely frantic’ about the welfare of her daughter at the time, had not been in trouble for 22 years.

Thompson, of Grey Street, Burnley, admitted police assault, on February 17.

She was given an eight-week curfew, from 8pm to 7am, and must pay £100 compensation, £85 costs and a £60 victim surcharge.

Andrew Robinson, prosecuting, said the bite did not break the skin because of the officer's clothing, but she was left concerned, in pain and disgusted by the two-part assault on her.

David Lawson, for Thompson, said she had been in a ‘heightened state of anxiety’ when police tried to speak to her and was not in the most rational state of mind. Officers had taken hold of her and told her she was being arrested for breach of the peace and she became more and more frantic.

Mr Lawson said the defendant, who had been drinking, did understand the significance of her actions and wished to apologise to the officer.

Bench chairman Lynn Kemp told Thompson: “It was very unpleasant.

“I can imagine that you very remorseful and ashamed of what you did that night.

“It does seem as though this is quite out of character.