Teen locked up after attack on police officer
16 year old girl admits court attack on female police officer
A 16 year old girl who brutally attacked a police officer inside a court building - repeatedly head-butting the officer and punching her in the face over and over - was today locked up.
The teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, launched the assault on PC Gwen Louden in the foyer of Dundee Sheriff Court in January.
She had been sitting in the building's court room number one listening to a case - but was thrown out for "comments" she made during it.
The girl - who the court heard has a £180 a fortnight cannabis habit - was asked to leave by PC Louden and initially walked out of the front door.
But she re-entered and was then arrested - prompting the horrific attack.
Fiscal depute Stewart Duncan told Dundee Sheriff Court how the six-foot tall 16-year-old first punched and head-butted PC Louden - who stands several inches shorter - before raining down blow after blow on her head.
The officer remains off work as a result of the attack.
He said: "Another officer attended in the reception area of the court at PC Louden's request. The accused was informed she was under arrest for another matter no longer before the court. PC Louden took the girl's hand and she pulled away, before PC Louden took her by the wrist. A struggle ensued and she then punched PC Louden in the face with her right fist then headbutted the officer to the left side of her face and repeatedly punched her on the head several more times. The officer and a colleague struggled with the accused and pulled her in to the main reception area. She continued to repeatedly punch and headbutt the officer to the head and face. The accused was eventually forced face down on the ground and handcuffed to the rear. PC Louden attended Ninewells Hospital accident and emergency with swelling and pain to the left forehead and severe swelling to the left cheekbone but it couldn't be x-rayed due to the swelling. She remains off work and still has a black eye."
The 16-year-old, of Dundee, pleaded guilty to a charge of assault to injury committed on January 28 on summary complaint.
She also admitted breaching a community payback order previously imposed for another offence.
David Duncan, defending, said: "In terms of the offence there's no mitigation that could be properly attacked to it. It is only the circumstances of this offence that has really opened her up to realise that her conduct could result in imprisonment."
Sheriff Elizabeth Munro deferred sentence until next month for a psychiatric report and remanded the girl in custody meantime.
She said: "She spends £180 a fortnight on cannabis with her partner and then says she doesn't have the money to pay her bus fare to engage with her current community payback order. On the basis of her repeated failures to attend I'm having difficulty seeing I can trust her. I'm not prepared to stay my hand in terms of her status and she will be remanded in custody for this report."