AN 18-YEAR-OLD woman who punched a police officer in the head has been sentenced to 90 hours of community service.
But Chelsea Leigh Such was told that she could have faced youth custody for the assault, which occurred in the early hours of 24 July on St Saviour’s Road.
St Helier Centenier Danny Scaife, prosecuting, told the Magistrate’s Court that an officer in a police car had seen Such and a male arguing in the street at 2.35am. Such then suddenly ran towards his car and rolled over the bonnet.
She ran off but the officer caught up with her, and, seeing she had cuts and bruises, he phoned for an ambulance.
“During the wait, she punched him in the forehead,” Mr Scaife said. “The injuries were not severe.”
Advocate Stephen Wauchope, defending, said Such had been drunk at the time and had only turned 18 years old a short time before the offence.
He said: “She was in genuine distress. She is genuinely remorseful.”
He also pointed out that the punch had caused reddening to the officer’s forehead but no significant injuries.
Assistant Magistrate Adam Clarke told Such that being drunk was an aggravating factor and not an excuse, and added: “An assault on a police officer is likely to attract consideration of a custodial sentence.”
However, he said he was taking into account her guilty plea and lack of relevant previous convictions in sentencing her to community service instead.
He also imposed a six-month probation order.
