Recovering alcoholic bit WPC

3:35pm Wednesday 14th May 2008

A recovering alcoholic, who relapsed after drinking five cans of lager, bit a police officer attending a domestic incident at her home.

Police and paramedics were called to an ongoing domestic incident at 13 Grove Way, Pembroke, on the evening of February 5th.

They entered the house to find Maria Margaret, aged 33, Jones lying on the living room floor in a drunken state.

Jones' children were nearby and very upset. They were taken by one of the attending officers, WPC Lambe, to another room.

Prosecutor Nick Newton told Haverfordwest magistrates court yesterday that PC Lambe returned to the living room to see her male colleague struggling with Jones, who had become aggressive. Jones fell into a chair and both police officers held her hands.

PC Lambe then felt "a strong biting feeling and a painful sensation" on her forearm. Jones was restrained and handcuffed and taken to the police station. She continued to be aggressive throughout. Shouting on the journey "take these f***ing cuffs off you posh cow".

PC Lambe was taken to casualty, she had redness and swelling a 3 x 3cm bruise on her forearm.

"I was extremely distressed to be the victim of an unprovoked attack she said and extremely shocked to be bitten.

"Maria Jones' behaviour towards police was extremely inappropriate and upsetting for her children to witness."

Jones said that she couldn't remember the attack or the journey to the police station. She said that she was a recovering alcoholic but had drunk lager. She accepted that she shouldn't have mixed it with medication she was taking.

"She simply couldn't remember the assault but accepts it was an unprovoked attack," said Mr Newton.

Jones pleaded guilty to a charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Eirug Roberts, defending said that Jones had shown genuine remorse and was desperately sorry.

"Her judgement had been clouded by excessive drinking," he said.

Magistrates told Jones to pay £50 compensation to WPC Lambe and £50 court costs. They also gave her a twelve month supervision order.

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