A Swindon woman has been convicted of assaulting yet another police officer.
Lisa Rudman, who has a history of emergency worker attacks, was arrested following a domestic incident at her home in Bacon Close, Old Town, on 14 October this year.
The defendant was put into the back of a police van following her detention at about 9am – where she proceeded to spit at the cage walls and floor.
Prosecutor Keith Ballinger said she had to be restrained in Gablecross custody due to becoming aggressive and making a comment about biting the nose off of an officer.
PC Sophie Barratt was assisting in the struggle when she was kicked in the shin by the 39-year-old, which caused her some “some pain and discomfort”.
At Swindon Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday (7 November), Rudman pleaded guilty to assaulting an emergency worker by beating and criminal damage to the police van.
The magistrates were told that she has previous convictions for assault, including four in relation to emergency workers, and is currently serving an 18-month community order.
Gordon Hotson, defending, said that his client’s former partner had attended her address and she did not want him there – as a result, there was an altercation and they were both arrested.
“She was highly distressed at the police station, she felt she had not going anything wrong”, he said.
Adding that she “reacted badly and reacted physically, and made contact with the police officer”.
Mr Hotson said Rudman has been battling alcohol issues and this incident was the first relapse since she stopped drinking in March. He said that she has since been able to maintain her abstinence again with help and support from The Nelson’s Trust.
He said the defendant is “not in the best health”, suffering with “fibromyalgia and a number of infections”. She is currently permanently signed off work.
On hearing that she has been engaging on her currently community order and making progress, the magistrates imposed a second community order with the requirement to complete a further 10 rehabilitation activity days and fined her £180.
