She missed, and after trying to kick another officer, was restrained in a leg strap
A heavy-drinking woman angrily spat at a police officer and kicked out at another constable after suddenly turning nasty during a “horrible” confrontation near two bars in the early hours of the morning. Stacy Smith refused to be handcuffed after an earlier violent disturbance and she hurled abuse at police, Hull Crown Court heard.
Smith, 40, formerly of Great Union Street, but recently of Westbourne House hostel in Princes Avenue, west Hull, admitted two offences of assaulting police officers as emergency workers on August 2. She was in breach of a 15-month suspended prison sentence imposed on March 18 last year.
Stephen Welch, prosecuting, said that police went to an incident in the area of two bars in Scale Lane, Hull, at 3.11am and saw a woman bleeding heavily from a head wound. Smith was pointed out by a passer-by as being one of the people involved.
She swore and swung her arms and she was arrested. She resisted arrest, refused to be handcuffed and shouted: “F***ing idiot, f***ing geek.”
Smith spat at a male police officer but missed. She tried to kick a female officer while they were attempting to double-lock the handcuffs but she did not make contact. She was restrained in a leg strap.
The officer that she tried to spit at later said that it was “disgusting” and “vile” when people did this. Smith had, at the time, been diagnosed as suffering from hepatitis C.
During police interview, Smith made no comment to all questions. She had convictions for 29 previous offences, mainly theft and benefit fraud, but also assault. She had been given a 15-month suspended sentence in March for assault causing actual bodily harm, assaulting emergency workers, fraud and being drunk and disorderly.
That involved an argument between Smith and another woman escalating into violence. Smith got hold of her hair and hit her on the head about 20 times with a mug that she had hidden up her sleeve.
An ambulance was called but, when the victim was on a stretcher, Smith told her: “I hope you die.” She left the scene but returned and was asked by staff to leave. She became abusive and refused to leave. She eventually left.
Smith was arrested and, while at the hospital, she was shouting loudly enough to be heard in other rooms. She was physically and verbally abusive to police and bit one of the officers.
Samantha Laws, mitigating, said that Smith previously relied daily on drugs and alcohol but she had been clean of methadone for six months and had reduced her drinking. “She was previously drinking every day but she has reduced that to four days a week and is working hard to reduce it further,” said Miss Laws.
Smith admitted that she had spent “25 years of chaotic living” in the past. “She has not been a productive member of society and she knows that,” said Miss Laws.
“She is disgusted and ashamed at her actions. She has asked to pass on her apologies to the police officers. She has had treatment for hepatitis C.
“She was tested last week and no longer tested positive for that. She doesn’t want to drink any more.”
Deputy circuit judge Timothy Clayson told Smith: “The time has come for you to stop getting into trouble. By rights, you should be locked up. I don’t think it’s in the public interest to lock you up today.
“This is horrible behaviour. The police should not have to deal with incidents such as this. Drink is at the heart of it really. It justifies a short prison sentence but I will suspend it.
“Please don’t put someone like me in the position of having to send you to prison. Consider yourself very lucky.”
Smith was given a one-month suspended prison sentence, six months’ alcohol treatment and five days’ rehabilitation.