Court / Young woman order to pay compensation for assault on police officer

A WOMAN who shouted, swore and struggled with her former partner before stubbing out a cigarette on a police sergeant’s hand has been ordered to pay £400 in restitution.

Leanne Richardson, of Hamarsgarth, Mossbank, had previously admitted behaving in a threatening or abusive manner at her home address on 19 June last year, as well as assaulting the police officer.

Richardson had also previously pleaded guilty to shouting, swearing and uttering threats within a vehicle en-route to Lerwick Police Station.

Sheriff Ian Cruickshank made the restitution order in relation to her assault on the police officer.

He deferred sentence until 22 June regarding the struggle with her ex-partner for her to be of good behaviour. A 12-month non-harassment order that she should not contact the man was also imposed.

Defence agent Tommy Allan said his client had given an “appropriate indication of remorse and shame”.

At the time of the offence she had been in a relationship that was “clearly not good for her” but she was now in a new relationship and had also taken up a new job.

Lerwick Sheriff Court previously heard that Richardson’s ex-partner, who was sober at the time, called the police out of concern after she had been drinking.

Procurator fiscal Duncan Mackenzie told the court in December that it was clear from the police call that Richardson was shouting and screaming. When the police arrived her behaviour towards officers was “simply appalling”, the court heard.

They tried to calm her down but she ended up putting out a cigarette on an officer’s hand – which resulted in Richardson being arrested.

Her behaviour continued onto the police station – with Mackenzie saying Richardson was using a “fairly impressive vocabulary”.