Police responding to a report of a woman with a knife found a man bleeding heavily from a cut to his hand.

Blackburn Magistrates' Court heard Claire Mellor, who told the officers she no longer had the knife, was arrested on September 30.

While in custody she became agitated and spat in a police officer’s face, leaving the officer worried she might contract a disease from the defendant.

Mellor, 24, of Hunslet Street, Burnley, admitted to assaulting an emergency worker and was given a 28-day curfew and ordered to to pay £100 compensation.

Deputy District Judge Gary Garland said assaulting a police officer by spitting was a nasty thing to do.

He added: “The police are doing a very difficult job trying to ensure the public don’t come to any harm and they don’t deserve in the way you treated them.”

Susheela Regala, prosecuting, said police attended an address in Burnley after receiving a report of a woman in possession of a knife.

“The defendant  advised the police she no longer had the knife,” said Miss Regala.

“There was a man sitting on the sofa bleeding heavily from a cut to his hand and the defendant was arrested. Without warning she spat in the officer’s face.”

The officer was disgusted by the defendant’s behaviour and she was concerned for her health, because it wasn’t known if the defendant had any diseases that could affect her.

Laura Heywood, mitigating, said her client was only charged with assaulting an emergency worker.

“She expressed remorse when interviewed and explained she was suffering with her mental health,” said Miss Heywood.

“She has two personalities, the one who appears in court today and the one who can’t surpress her anger. She is getting therapy and medication for the latter.”