Woman jailed for police assault

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/scotland/glasgow_and_west/6946036.stm

Version 0 of 1.

A woman who threw a mixture of boiling water and sugar into the face of a policeman has been sentenced to nine months in jail.

Joan Smart, 38, attacked Pc Ross Alexander at her flat in Drumchapel, Glasgow, after he had gone to arrest her boyfriend last August.

The officer was taken to hospital, and suffered severe reddening to his face.

Sheriff Martin Jones QC told Smart that jail was the only option for "pre-meditated criminal conduct".

On her appearance at Glasgow Sheriff Court in June, Smart had earlier admitted to charges of assault, breach of the peace and obstructing police.

The attack happened while police attended Smart's home in the city's Kendoon Avenue.

Officers became aware of an outstanding warrant against Smart's partner Patrick Shiels, 33, and moved to arrest him.

'Burning sensation'

Patrick Hughes, prosecuting, said Smart left the room and began boiling a kettle in the kitchen.

She then tried to stop police handcuffing Shiels before going back into the kitchen and returning with a large plastic jug, which she claimed contained boiling water and sugar.

She threw the hot liquid into the face of PC Alexander.

Fiscal Mr Hughes said: "This struck him in the face and ran down his arms. It caused a burning sensation."

Pc Alexander's colleagues managed to push Smart, now of the city's Trainard Avenue, Tollcross, back into the kitchen before she was arrested.

The court heard that Pc Alexander was taken to hospital, but apart from suffering "a bright red face" for several days, he sustained no permanent damage.