An 18-year-old woman who spat in a police officer's face as she was being arrested has walked free, after a judge said she was too ''young and immature'' to go to jail.
Shanae White, then 18, lowered her facemask and spat onto the forehead and cheek of Sgt Matt Black at the height of the pandemic as he was escorting her to a cell, on suspicion of robbery.
Sgt Black who is based at Bury police station in Greater Manchester couldn't even wipe his face as he tried to keep hold of White and said he felt the spittle running into his eyes and mouth.
It was not disclosed if he underwent any medical tests following the assault, during the hearing at Minshull Street Crown Court, Manchester.
In a statement Sgt Black said: ''The incident left me feeling sick. It happened during the pandemic and I was worried about catching the Covid virus and passing it onto my family.
"I'd rather be be punched than have someone spit in my face.''
White who had been smoking cannabis had earlier been detained after she threatened to stab a young woman in the street before robbing her of two necklaces - one given to her as a gift by her grandparents.
The arrested woman, who has a history of knife crime, violence and resisting arrest later blamed her conduct on mental health issues stemming back to ''irresponsible parenting'' and abuse from family members.
No public apology was given to either the officer or the victim of the robbery.
White now 20, from Stretford, admitted robbery and assaulting an emergency worker but was given 20 months custody suspended for two years.
She will also have to complete a course at a ''Problem-Solving Court'', a ''Thinking Skills'' programme plus 20 Rehabilitation Requirement Days.
She has also been made subject of a curfew since her arrest.
Sentencing Judge Bernadette Baxter told her: ''The robbery was nasty bullying violence when you threatened to stab someone and to do what you did to that police officer was absolutely disgusting and vile.
''It was a deliberate act on your part at the time of the pandemic - people don't go to work to be assaulted and abused in that way.
''But because of the age you were at the time, and your immaturity, the very disruptive and difficult childhood you have had and your exposure because of irresponsible parents to domestic violence and because of your mental health difficulties, I can suspend the sentence.
''Given your age, there is a real hope for rehabilitation but this is not a soft option for you.
"Your time will be called upon by the probation service to hopefully give you the tools you need to lead a structured life.
''The reason I can suspend the sentence is principally because of your age, your mental health and social circumstances. I'm giving you a chance so make sure you take the opportunity.''
White had been arrested by Sgt Black after launching an attack on Leonie Heney, while the victim had been chatting to two friends in Bury town centre on November 11, 2020 at around 8pm.
Miss Alexandra Sutton prosecuting said: ''White offered to sell drugs to them but this group declined. She then asked if they had a phone with credit and when they answered 'no' she asked if they had any jewellery and started to become aggressive.
''She said: ''Have none of you got a phone or jewellery? You're lying to me - I will stab you all!.'' She then got in Miss Heaney's face and grabbed three necklaces that were around her neck and pulled them off.
''Miss Heaney managed to hold onto one of the necklaces but the other two were taken from her.
"Miss Heaney and the others than ran away with White shouting at them. Police arrived and whilst taking a statement from the victims saw White and one of them identified her as the culprit.
''The officers searched White who claimed the victims had tried to take the chains from her and she was arrested. She was asked if she had taken any drugs and she said she had smoked some weed.''
In a statement Miss Heaney told police the attack made her scared to go out for fear she might fall victim to a similar mugging.
She said the stabbing threats issued made her feel her life was at risk.
White who answered no comment in police interview, had five previous offences on her record.
In mitigation defence counsel Miss Lillian Lewis said: ''She's had a very difficult, disruptive and traumatic childhood and was also a victim of significant domestic violence by a former long term partner.
''Her mental health was particularly bad at the time of this offence and she has an emotional unstable personality disorder which has not yet fully developed because of her young age.
''She has a marked tendency to act unexpectedly without considering the consequences. She is easily influenced by others.''
An accomplice of White, Ricaan Chevelleau, 19, of Blackley, Manchester will be sentenced later.
