Two women who attacked police officers who were responding to reports of an illegal house party have been sentenced.
The incident happened during the early part of the COVID-19 lockdown.
Bayleigh Meadows and Millie Robinson, both 21, were drinking and playing loud music at a friend’s flat around 23:00 hours on 8th April.
The police had been alerted to the gathering, and two response team officers made their way to the address to speak to the occupants.
When officers arrived, they spoke to the revellers and urged them to go back home, as per the government’s rules.
Meadows and Robinson quickly became abusive with Robinson taunting a female PC repeatedly with threats such as: “I’ve got coronavirus, watch out”.
After ignoring repeated warnings, a male police sergeant tried to arrest Robinson owing to her abusive and threatening behaviour.
Both Robinson and Meadows then became violent and started to punch and kick the officers.
During the assault on the officers, Meadows swung a large, heavy metal toilet roll holder at the Sergeant.
The toilet roll holder that was used in the vicious assault
The large wooden base of the holder hit the officer in the head with such force that he required treatment in A&E.
The impact of the toilet roll holder left a gaping wound on the left side of his forehead and was glued back together by A&E staff.
Additional units arrived at the scene, and both Meadows and Robinson were taken into custody.
Meadows, who has previous convictions for assaulting police officers, was jailed for 12 months for Actual Bodily Harm at Lewes Crown Court today.
Robinson received a six-month sentence for assaulting an emergency worker.
Lorna Lee, Senior Crown Prosecutor, said:
“The CPS has, unfortunately, had to prosecute many assaults on police during the coronavirus lockdown but this attack stands out as one of the most shameful.
“The two officers were performing an important public health duty in calmly and patiently explaining to the women why parties were not allowed at this time.
“In response they were met with a barrage of insults and sustained physical violence by the intoxicated and dangerously out-of-control defendants, which lasted several minutes.
“It was only luck that Bayleigh Meadows did not inflict a more serious injury when she struck one officer with a heavy object.
“The CPS will continue to treat assaults on police officers and other emergency workers with the utmost priority as the country tackles the coronavirus pandemic.”
The CPS revealed in May that 313 prosecutions for assaults on emergency workers were completed in the first month of lockdown.
Max Hill QC, Director of Public Prosecutions, has repeatedly warned that anyone attacking emergency workers – including by coughing and spitting – faces up to 12 months in prison.
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