MAGISTRATES praised a female special constable who stood up to a drunken gang in a Darwen park.

Blackburn magistrates heard that Special Constable Nicola Veitch was attacked by one of the mob who ripped off her epaulettes and tie and smashed her torch as drunken teenagers and 53-year-old Anthony Vickers egged him on.

Vickers and other members of the gang ran off into Sunnyhurst Wood but he returned and was identified by SPC Veitch and arrested by her after a struggle. Vickers was jailed and the magistrates singled out SPC Veitch for special praise.

“We want to express our admiration for the way Special Constable Veitch conducted herself in difficult circum-stances. She was facing a drunken group that were egging on this offender and we would like to recommend this information be placed on her record,” they said.

Catherine Allan, prosecuting, said the special was on foot patrol in Sunnyhurst Wood when she and another female officer were confronted by a large group of noisy youths who were drinking. Vickers was among the group of mainly teenagers and he was clearly drunk. He began calling the officers offensive names.

Vickers ran off but returned and SPC Veitch went to arrest him again.

Vickers kicked PC Roger Morris three times. Jonathan Taylor, defending, said: “He apologises and knows he should have shown far more respect.”

Vickers, of Bolton Road, Blackburn, was jailed for eight weeks for the assault on SPC Veitch and four weeks for the assault on PC Morris.