By Mike McQuaid
Contributor
A woman has narrowly avoided prison after a police officer’s wrist was broken during a street attack in Lanarkshire.
PC Paul Hastie suffered physical and psychological effects after the incident, a court was told.
Kimberley Brunton, 32, admitted assaulting PC Hastie to his severe injury in McClurg Court, Motherwell, on April 12 last year.
Hamilton Sheriff Court (pictured above) heard the officer and colleagues had attended a report of a disturbance.
Brunton lashed out and during a struggle PC Hastie fell to the ground and she landed on top of his arm.
The officer’s injury meant he was off duty for three months.
Brunton, of Primrose Crescent, Motherwell, also admitted assaulting another officer during the fracas while her partner, Daniel Tobin, 33, also pleaded guilty to a charge of police assault.
Defence lawyer Laura Kiernan said Brunton’s behaviour had been “reckless”, adding: “She feels dreadful about the injury sustained by the police officer, but it was due to her landing on his arm and it was not deliberate.
Sheriff Colin Dunipace
“Since this incident there have been no other matters and she has reduced her alcohol intake.
“She has poor mental health and the author of the criminal justice social work report says custody would exacerbate the problems she suffers from.
“It is suggested that a community payback order would be more appropriate.”
Sheriff Colin Dunipace told Brunton: “This requires to be taken very seriously, particularly in regard to the officer’s victim impact statement.
“It’s clear that he suffered physically and psychologically as a result of your behaviour.
“I have considered locking you up for a lengthy period as the custody threshold has easily been crossed.
“With some hesitation I won’t do that, but if you breach the order I impose there will be a custodial sentence in excess of 12 months.”
Brunton was placed under supervision for 12 months and ordered to do 160 hours of unpaid community work.
She will be confined to her home between 7pm and 7am each day under a five-month electronic tagging order.
Tobin will also be supervised for 12 months and tagged for five months. He must do 100 hours of unpaid work.