A Darwen woman who tried to intervene when her partner was being arrested lashed out at a female police officer.

Sarah Healey, 28, claimed the blow had been reckless but prosecutor Catherine Allan told Blackburn magistrates that was not accepted. “Witnesses say she lashed out and deliberately struck the officer,” said Miss Allan, who revealed that Healey had three previous convictions for assaulting police.

Healey, of Entwistle Street, admitted assaulting PC Lisa Nebil. She was made subject to comm-unity supervision for 12 months with a referral to the alcohol services and ordered to pay £50 compensation and £85 costs. Jonathan Taylor, defending, said his client had become involved because of misguided loyalty to her partner.

“She says she was flailing her arms around when the officer took her to one side and caught the officer,” said Mr Taylor. “It wasn’t a deliberate punch.”