A TEENAGE girl bit a policewoman and punched her in the head then kicked another officer, a court heard.

Katrina Blacklock, 19, had a substantial record for public order offences and those involving the police - and all except one were linked to officers at Colne, the court was told.

Blacklock, of Basil Street, Colne - said by her solicitor to have problems going back to her early childhood - was put on probation by Burnley magistrates for 12 months and must receive medical treatment.

She had admitted using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour and two counts of police assault, on March 6.

The court heard that in the early hours police had arrested the defendant's aunt.

A police officer saw Blacklock running across the car park to the police van, shouting abuse and running towards the custody offices.

Blacklock had to be restrained, tried to push past the officer and struggled violently on arrest.

PC Carole Leach was called in to help with a strip search, Blacklock was aggressive and bit her hand, although no injury was caused. When the defendant was in a cell, she lunged towards the officer and struck her on the head.

Sergeant Simon Wilson had hold of Blacklock's arms when she appeared to have harmed herself, and she kicked the back of his calf.

Neil Campbell, defending, said Blacklock took great offence at being strip searched and lashed out a the officer. She did not deliberately try to punch her on the head.

None of the officers needed hospital treatment and had no lasting injuries.

Although the assaults were at the lower end of this type of offending, it was the frequency of the offences that would concern the courts.

Blacklock had had problems since the age of six or seven and even her psychiatrist did not know what was wrong with her.

The defendant had the emotional and social function of a 12-year-old and could not communicate.

Because she could not express herself, she took drink, became aggressive and got into trouble.

In the past, Blacklock had gone into the police station and asked for medical treatment.

Mr Campbell added all the defendant's previous offences, except one, were linked to the police at Colne.

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