A WOMAN who was under arrest managed to take off her handcuffs and then kicked the police officer who tried to retrieve them.

Grace Weir, 19, had been arrested for an unrelated matter on the evening of September 28. She was in the rear of a police vehicle and had arrived at Workington Police Station.

Pamela Fee, prosecuting at Workington Magistrates’ Court, said the defendant was sat on the floor and was holding her handcuffs. She had managed to take them off.

The officer went to retrieve the handcuffs and Weir had kicked her to the chest. She then kicked her again to the leg.

While being booked in at the police station, Weir apologised to the officer.  

Mike Woolaghan, defending, said; “It’s an early guilty plea. She apologises to police at the police station. She is a young lady of previous good character.”

A probation officer said Weir had taken responsibility for her actions and expressed remorse. The defendant was ‘intoxicated’ at the time and in a ‘heightened emotional state’.

The court heard that Weir had suffered ‘extensive trauma’ in childhood and as an adult. Her friend had recently died and she had a history of misusing drugs and alcohol.

She has struggled to keep employment for a sustained period due to poor mental health, the court was told.

Weir, of Company Fold, Little Clifton, Workington, pleaded guilty to assault by beating of an emergency worker.

She was fined £200 and was ordered to pay £85 costs and an £80 victim surcharge.