A woman who called police claiming she was the victim of a serious offence ended up assaulting four officers.

Blackburn Magistrates' Court heard Laura Spencer bit, scratched and spat at officers during the short-lived but frenzied incident while telling them she had AIDs.

Spencer, 43, of Melling Court, Colne, pleaded guilty to four charges of assaulting an emergency worker and being drunk and disorderly.

She was sentenced to 10 weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months, with a 30-day rehabilitation activity requirement and six months alcohol treatment requirement

She was also ordered to pay £100 compensation to each of the four police officers involved.

District Judge Alexandra Preston said the incident, which occurred on April 24 in Colne, was disgusting.

She said: “It was made worse because it was committed against public servants who had attended to help you."

Susheela Regala, prosecuting, said police were contacted by Spencer at 3.20 am.

She was making allegations of a serious offence, but when officers spoke to her she was abusive and asked them to leave.

When a female officer went to restrain her, Spencer dug her nails into the officer’s hand. She then said: “I have just cut your finger and I’ve got AIDS.”

When other officers went to assist Spencer kicked out at one but missed, spat in the face of another and kicked one to the leg.

John Rusius, mitigating, said his client had not had a happy life, starting when she was a teenager when she was kidnapped.

She was kept for three days during which she was tortured, suffering burns and fractured bones.

“As a result of that she suffered post traumatic stress disorder and turned to drugs to try and cope with life,” said Mr Rusius.

He sad her offending stopped when she married and had children but her husband died in 2015.

“She still managed to stay out of trouble but in 2019 she tried to get of methadone,” said Mr Rusius.

“She didn’t manage that and unfortunately relapsed into drug use.”

She had once again managed to get off drugs with the help of Inspire and despite the death of another long-term partner.

Mr Rusius said his client believed her drink had been spiked prior to her being the victim of a serious offence.

“The police came to support her and she doesn’t know why she behaved in the way that she did,” he added.

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