Spitting South Yorkshire woman told police she hopes they die of virus

Sheffield Magistrates’ Court - sitting at Sheffield Crown Court - heard on April 15 how Rebecca Short, aged 27, of Howard Road, Bramley, Rotherham, admitted assaulting four officers after a call-out to a reported domestic incident.

Short admitted that one of the assaults had involved racial abuse during the prolonged incident on April 14.

Alison Goldsmith, prosecuting, said officers responded to a report of a domestic incident at the former home of the defendant on Whitegate Walk, Rotherham, and Short was arrested and was aggressive and tried to kick and bite officers.

Short also began headbutting the cage inside a police vehicle, according to Miss Goldsmith, and the defendant had to be taken to hospital and a small amount of cannabis was found on her.

Ms Goldsmith said: “She became verbally abusive and said, ‘I hope you get coronavirus and die’.”

Short made threats to one of the officers and started to spit and saliva landed on one of the officers and Short was taken to the police station, according to Miss Goldsmith.

Miss Goldsmith confirmed that during the entire incident Short attempted to bite one officer, attempted to kick a second, spat at another and kicked and racially insulted a fouth officer.

The defendant pleaded guilty to three counts of assaulting an emergency worker and admitted a racially aggravated assault against a further emergency worker. She also admitted possessing cannabis.

Clarkson Baptiste, defending, said: “When confronted with the facts of the case Miss Short expressed disbelief that she had acted in this way.”

District Judge Naomi Redhouse told Short: “People who assault police officers at any time stop them doing their job and stop them helping other people. And to assault them in these circumstances and to make the threats you made and say the things you expressed was very serious.”

Short was sentenced to 22 weeks of custody suspended for 12 months with a four-week curfew.

The defendant must pay £30 compensation to each of three of the officers she assaulted and £50 compensation to the officer she assaulted and racially abused.