Woman assaulted three police officers - court told

And she was warned that if she got into any trouble before then she would be facing a custodial sentence.

Barbara Elizabeth Boyd (50), Sandringham, Portadown, admitted disorderly behaviour, assaulting three police officers and resisting a constable on November 1 last year.

The case had been adjourned from a previous court so that a pre-sentence report could be obtained.

A public prosecutor said that police on duty in Mandeville Street saw the defendant sitting on the ground. She said ‘go on you black b—ds’ and continued to be abusive.

She lashed out at an officer, kicking her on the leg and struggled as police tried to use handcuffs. Boyd also kicked two other officers on the legs.

Mr Joe McDonald, representing the defendant, said she had been an alcoholic for a number of years.

He added that fortunately none of the police officers were seriously injured.

Mr McDonald explained that Boyd had been attending the Brownlow addictions centre for the last ten weeks and was waiting to get into the Christian Family Centre.

He said that she attended AA twice a week and was trying to help herself although it was difficult for her as a long time alcoholic.

District Judge, Mr Mervyn Bates, pointed out that she was in breach of a suspended sentence for similar offending.

Mr McDonald said the defendant had received probation in the past and had done well on probation.

He asked the judge to consider deferring sentence to see how she gets on with the courses she is attending.

Deferring sentence until July 6 Judge Bates said Boyd was not to come to police attention in the meantime and he wanted updated reports at that time.

However, he warned Boyd that if she got into any trouble she would be facing a custodial sentence.