A WOMAN attacked a police officer and a custody worker, spitting in the face of one victim.

Burnley magistrates heard how Amy Morton, 47, was foul-mouthed and still "playing up" when taken to the police station.

There, she spat at a detention officer after he opened a cell hatch, covering his glasses and parts of his face.

Morton, of Pritchard Street, Burnley, who was in breach of a conditional discharge, admitted police assault and assaulting a designated or accredited person, following the incident on July 2.

She was given 12 months supervision, with £100 compensation and £120 costs.

Sentencing, magistrates said her behaviour was "entirely unpleasant".

Wendy Chappell, prosecuting, told the bench police were called to Pritchard Street after reports of a distressed female and window smashing. Officers went to a house and Morton opened the door in a confused state.

A man in the house was arrested and as officers dealt with him, Morton tried to intervene. Mrs Chappell said the defendant went towards one officer and pushed her with force, causing her to fall on the setee.

Morton was shouting: "Leave him alone, he's not done anything", as well as swearing.

She was warned she would be CS gassed. She was taken to the police station and put in a cell but kept banging on the door.

When a detention officer opened the hatch she demanded to see a solicitor and spat in his face.

Mrs Chappell said when police interviewed the defendant, she denied assaulting anybody.

She accepted she had spat at the officer, but claimed she did not mean to and apologised. She had 21 previous convictions.

Graeme Tindall, defending, said fortunately neither party who was assaulted sustained serious injury.