A mother has avoided jail after bashing a police officer in the face with a copy of the Bible.
Detectives had been called to the home of Melanie Harrison in Bucknall, Stoke-on-Trent, following a "noise nuisance" complaint.
When officers from Staffordshire Police arrived in June, 2023, Harrison was holding a baby.
North Staffordshire Justice Centre heard how she bought a a Bible from the drawer, and rushed towards one of the officers and attacked him with the holy book.
Helen Shipley, prosecuting, said: “When police officers arrived at the address Melanie Harrison was holding a baby.
The defendant went into the kitchen, produced a Bible from the drawer, and rushed towards one of the officers and she hit him with the Bible using both of her hands, making him feel pain.
"She was arrested," the court was told. "She was previously of good character."
Harrison pleaded guilty to a charge of criminal damage relating to the spitting incident. She was also convicted of assaulting an emergency worker by beating following a trial.
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Jo Corbett, mitigating, said: "She is a single mum with three young children with specific caring needs.
"She receives benefits and things are quite tight at home."
The court later ordered Harrison to pay £1,200 in costs and compensation.
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Detectives had been called to the home of Melanie Harrison in Bucknall, Stoke-on-Trent, following a "noise nuisance" complaint.
When officers from Staffordshire Police arrived in June, 2023, Harrison was holding a baby.
North Staffordshire Justice Centre heard how she bought a a Bible from the drawer, and rushed towards one of the officers and attacked him with the holy book.
Helen Shipley, prosecuting, said: “When police officers arrived at the address Melanie Harrison was holding a baby.
The defendant went into the kitchen, produced a Bible from the drawer, and rushed towards one of the officers and she hit him with the Bible using both of her hands, making him feel pain.
"She was arrested," the court was told. "She was previously of good character."
Harrison pleaded guilty to a charge of criminal damage relating to the spitting incident. She was also convicted of assaulting an emergency worker by beating following a trial.
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Jo Corbett, mitigating, said: "She is a single mum with three young children with specific caring needs.
"She receives benefits and things are quite tight at home."
The court later ordered Harrison to pay £1,200 in costs and compensation.
Find Out More...