‘She is currently happy in custody and, quite frankly, she accepts that it’s the place she needs to be at the minute’
An agitated woman became enraged while she was being handcuffed by the police – and suddenly lashed out at two officers during a bad-tempered confrontation. Shirin Shamsaee had assaulted emergency workers in the past and she had been given “numerous chances” to avoid being sent to prison, only to throw them away, Hull Crown Court heard.
Shamsaee, 37, of Goths Lane, Beverley, but recently in custody on remand, admitted breaching a one-year community order imposed on July 8 for assaulting two police officers as emergency workers on May 8. She pleaded guilty to the assaults on the day of a scheduled trial.
James O’Connor, prosecuting, said that Shamsaee breached the order by not turning up for rehabilitation days with the probation service on October 24 and 31. She had, when the order was made, been given 15 days’ rehabilitation.
The assaults on the police officers came when she became “quite animated” while handcuffs were being put onto her during an arrest. She lashed out and hit one officer in the face, causing a cut and bleeding, and kicked the other officer, causing pain but no injury.
Billy Torbett, mitigating, said that the assaults were made worse because they were on public workers. It was a very stressful situation for Shamsaee at the time through being arrested.
It was “no excuse” for her to lash out at officers who were performing a public duty, however. Shamsaee had suffered from problems but the two breaches of the order happened in quick succession. She did not provide an explanation for her failure to turn up.
“The absences clearly are unacceptable in that regard,” said Mr Torbett. “She is currently happy in custody and, quite frankly, she accepts that it’s the place she needs to be at the minute.”
Judge John Thackray KC said that Shamsaee had a bad record for breaching community orders. He told her: “Assaulting emergency workers, in this case police officers, is a serious offence and, in your case, it is aggravated by your previous convictions.”
Shamsaee had previous convictions for assault and two for assaulting emergency workers in 2023. “The courts have done their best to assist you over the years and you have had numerous chances,” said Judge Thackray.
“You have not cooperated with the order that was imposed as a direct alternative to an immediate custodial sentence. There is no realistic prospect of you complying with this order.”
Shamsaee was jailed for five months. The community order was revoked.