A DRUNK woman spat in a police officer’s eye, forcing him to go to hospital to be checked over for any diseases she may have given him.

Claire Hodgkiss, of no fixed abode, later refused to provide a blood sample to assess the level of risk to the officer, claiming she was scared of needles.

The 43-year-old, who gave the court a 'care of' address of Buttermere Drive, Warndon, Worcester, admitted assault by beating against an emergency worker when she appeared at the city’s magistrates court on Thursday.

The assault on PC Young happened in Worcester on April 3 after police were called to a disturbance at her home.

Nicola Ritchie, prosecuting, said police received a call in the early hours and went to the defendant’s address to reports of a ‘domestic’ between two women who were described as ‘heavily intoxicated.’

Miss Ritchie said: “While officers were at the address the defendant became agitated at the presence of the officers and therefore officers placed handcuffs on her.”

Hodgkiss was arrested on suspicion of assault and was described as being ‘verbally aggressive’ towards the officers.

“Whilst standing approximately two feet away from PC Young she spat in his face and the spittle landed on his face and in his right eye” said Miss Ritchie.

Because of the assault the officer had to attend Worcestershire Royal Hospital in Worcester for ‘treatment and testing.’

“The defendant refused to provide a blood sample to assist with the medical assessment on PC Young,” said Miss Ritchie.

Hodgkiss also had relevant previous convictions on her record from 1999 and 2011 when there were two assault PC charges.

She also has convictions for battery in 2016 and assault in 2017. In October last year she was handed a 12 month community order for battery which she remains subject to.

Barry Newton, defending, called the spitting ‘disgusting' and acknowledged that his client had an ‘unenviable’ record. He said she was shown footage of the incident from a body-worn camera.

“She explained that she and her partner had an argument between them and consumed a large amount of wine and beer to the point where she could not really remember what the argument was about.

“It’s believed it was neighbours who called police, concerned about what was going on,” said Mr Newton.

Both the defendant and her partner were arrested at the scene but no case was brought against Hodgkiss’s partner, Mr Newton said.

He said of her failure to provide a blood sample: “She has a fear of needles. She appreciates it would have made the testing easier had she been compliant. She apologies for that.”

District judge Nigel Cadbury said: “Spitting is particularly unpleasant and, with a bad record like that and that it was done during a community order, they are aggravating features.”

District judge Cadbury revoked the community order and sentenced her to eight weeks imprisonment suspended for 18 months. He further ordered her to complete 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days and a six month alcohol treatment programme. Hodgkiss must pay £200 compensation to the officer she spat on. No order was made for costs.