A 23-YEAR-OLD woman had to be dragged screaming and cursing from the A&E department at Royal Blackburn Hospital where she had been causing a disturbance.

Blackburn magistrates heard Amy Louise Cowburn used racist language towards a security officer at the hospital and struggled violently when police tried to remove her.

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Catherine Allan, prosecuting, said that as she was being removed Cowburn was thrashing about and foaming at the mouth and appeared to be under the influence of something.

“The officers were concerned about the patients, including a five-year-old girl who was in a wheelchair, which they had to struggle past,” said Miss Allan.

Cowburn, of Victoria Street, Nelson, pleaded guilty to racially aggravated threatening behaviour and resisting a police officer.

She also pleaded guilty to a joint charge with Karl William Thompson, 36, of St Peters Street, Blackburn, of handling a stolen police laptop.

They were both sentenced to eight weeks in prison suspended for 12 months.

Cowburn was ordered to pay £150 compensation to Lancashire Constabulary and £50 to the security officer and an £180 criminal court charge.

Thompson was ordered to pay £500 compensation to the police and £180 criminal court charge.

Miss Allan said the handling offence related to a laptop that had been taken from a police car left unattended while the officers dealt with a fight outside the Salvation Army Hostel.

Thompson was caught on CCTV carrying the computer and Cowburn handed him her jacket to conceal it.

David Lawson, for Cowburn, said she had problems with alcohol.

“The probation officer who has prepared a pre-sentence report says he has no doubt that with the correct support she can change and adopt an offence free lifestyle,” said Mr Lawson. “She appreciates she is in the last chance saloon.”

Ian Huggan, defending Thompson, said his client had tried to assist the police in the recovery of the computer.