A drunk woman kicked out at one police officer and tried to bite a second after being arrested and taken into custody.
Cheryl-ann Reed, 33, came to the attention of constables in Penrith at around 9.45pm on January 10.
Prosecutor Lee Dacre told Carlisle Magistrates’ Court that a member of the public had reported their concerns for a drunk and distressed female who was said to have been placed into a car in the town.
Officers attended and noted she was in the passenger seat of a vehicle.
“She was heavily drunk, shouting, swearing, unsteady on her feet,” said Mr Dacre. “There were mood swings and her behaviour was unpredictable.”
As police intervened, Reed kept dropping to the ground and was refusing to get into a patrol vehicle.
Reed kicked out at a female PC, and then kicked the side of the police vehicle cage several times.
She was taken to custody at Kendal, where Reed moved her head toward a second female constable and tried to bite her. “Fortunately she failed to do that,” said Mr Dacre, who confirmed there was no physical contact.”
In court, Reed, of Woodsghyll Drive, Carlisle, admitted two counts of assaulting an emergency worker, and being drunk and disorderly.
Magistrates heard she had five previous offences on her criminal record, including one for assaulting an emergency worker which dated back to July 2022.
Sean Harkin, defending, suggested the most recent offences were mitigated by Reed’s remorse. “The details of her behaviour on this occasion will no doubt be a difficult listen for her,” said Mr Harkin. “She is ashamed and motivated not to behave in this way again.”
Reed had also self-referred in order to address her alcohol consumption. She was also due to start a new job at the start of next month.
Magistrates imposed a 12-month community order. Reed must complete 100 hours’ unpaid work. She must also pay a £114 mandatory surcharge, and £85 prosecution costs.
