AN ABHORRENT act against a police officer has landed a Trehafod teenager a hefty fine.
Siobhan Suzanne Wilcox, of Trehafod Road, has been ordered to pay PC Christine Stanton £100 in compensation for spitting in her face twice.
Wilcox, 19, admitted committing the offence on December 12 after being arrested for assaulting the officer.
Mike Powell, prosecuting, told Pontypridd Magistrates’ Court that Wilcox became “boisterous” during a night out at Llanharan Rugby Club and the High Corner Public House.
The court heard that the assault took place following a struggle between the two women, which occurred when the officer tried to stop Wilcox from hitting a parked vehicle outside the pub.
Mr Powell said: “This defendant grabbed her by the hair, so she responded by grabbing the defendant by the hair. Both had a handful of hair each.”
The officer tried to solve the situation by offering to let go of Wilcox’s hair if she agreed to do the same.
Mr Powell added: “When she took her hand off, the defendant grabbed her hair firmly and pulled her to the floor, saying, ‘You want to have a go, do you?’.”
The court was told that the fight was broken up by another police officer, who just happened to be walking past.
The second assault of the police officer happened while Wilcox was in custody.
“At one point without warning she spits into the face of a woman police constable, who was about three feet away from the defendant,” said Mr Powell.
The court heard that Wilcox also spat at the officer on a separate occasion.
In addition to the assault offences, Wilcox was also charged with stealing items worth £48.64 from the Tesco Extra store in Talbot Green during the early hours of New Year’s Eve.
Mr Powell explained that Wilcox had been intoxicated at the time and said: “In interview she said she had blanked out and couldn’t remember a thing.”
Neil Foley, defending, explained that Wilcox is no longer abusing alcohol.
“She is deeply sorry for what happened and is now trying to get on with her life,” he said.
“She was ashamed of herself and upset to have behaved that way in front of her sister and long term friends.
“She accepted full responsibility and she did not seek to minimise her actions.”
Addressing Wilcox, presiding magistrate Viv Brown said: “This aggression when you are drunk is unacceptable in society.
“We also feel that the fact that you spat at this particular officer is abhorrent in our opinion.”
Wilcox was sentenced to a 12-month community order, with a supervision requirement. She was also ordered to pay £100 compensation to each of the women she assaulted, as well as £60 court costs.
