Suspended jail term for woman who spat in faces of two police officers
A woman who spat in the faces of two police officers has received a suspended prison sentence.
Malgorzata Jasinska (28), with an address listed as Dunclug Park in Ballymena, was sentenced at the town's Magistrates Court on charges of assaulting police; disorderly behaviour and causing criminal damage to a police vehicle on March 19 this year.
A prosecutor said the defendant was shouting and screaming and kicked out and struck a police vehicle leaving a "foot print and a dent".
She told officers if she was put in the rear of the police car she would urinate "all over it," a prosecutor said.
A cell van was requested but before it arrived, "without warning," she turned and spat in the face and onto the shoulder of an officer. Later, at Antrim Police Station, she spat "at force" in the face and neck of another officer.
A defence lawyer said it had been "appalling behaviour" and the defendant was "deeply ashamed". He said the spitting in particular had been "deplorable" and "reprehensible".
He said the defendant had been intoxicated and the offending had occurred "whilst she was in emotionally-heightened state" which he said added "some context to the circumstances in which she found herself".
District Judge Nigel Broderick said: "It is despicable to spit at anyone but at a public servant ,a police officer doing their job, those are aggravating features".
He said courts often jailed people for such offences but took into account her clear record, guilty plea and said "the only thing saving you from prison today" was that her young child was in her "sole care" and a report said her being in jail would have "a significant impact" on her son.
The defendant was given a four months prison term, suspended for two years, and was ordered to pay £200 - £100 compensation to each of the officers she spat on.