A WOMAN police officer had clumps of her hair yanked out as she struggled to arrest a woman who had attacked her male colleague in a 'blazing frenzy.'

Blackburn magistrates heard that Kathleen Magee and Brian Frederick Taylor were both punched in the face by police officers trying to protect themselves from violent assaults.

Magee, 24, of Swift Close, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to assaulting PC Susan Seddon and using threatening behaviour. A charge of assaulting PC Damien Coupe was dismissed.

Taylor, 30, of Swift Close, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to using threatening behaviour. A charge of assaulting PC Coupe was dismissed. They were both remanded on bail until June 25 for the preparation of pre-sentence reports.

Lisa Worsley, prosecuting, said that at 10.55am the two officers had been on mobile patrol when they saw Taylor and Magee shouting at each other and obviously involved in some kind of domestic dispute.

The officers approached and told them to quieten down and it was apparent they had been drinking.

"Things appeared to be calming down and the officers had got in their car and were about to leave when Taylor banged on the bonnet," said Miss Worsley.

"When PC Coupe got out of the vehicle, Magee rushed towards him in a blazing frenzy and struck him in the face. PC Seddon took hold of her and a violent struggle ensued."

She said PC Seddon had managed to get one handcuff on Magee but she was kicking out and trying to punch the officer, who radioed for assistance.

"At that point, Magee grabbed her hair, yanking out great clumps of it," said Miss Worsley. "She pulled the officer's face to the floor and tried to punch her and, at that stage, the officer punched Magee in the face as hard as she could in order to protect herself." She said PC Coupe had been having a similar struggle with Taylor, who had also been punched in the face by the officer who was protecting himself.

Both were eventually arrested when other officers arrived.

Before ordering reports on Magee, the court was told that she had been released from prison just three months before the incident after serving part of a sentence for offences including assaulting a police officer.

Debbie Jameson, for Taylor, said his part in the incident had been very much less than that played by Magee.

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