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Hen night shame for drunken reveller

26/ 3/2002

A SINGLE mum-of-two who spat at a policeman after headbutting a food menu board has been made to cough up compensation to the constable.

Town magistrates heard that Zoe Grainger, 22, of Waters Green, Macclesfield, assaulted the officer by spitting at him after she had been arrested at the end of a night out.

Grainger, who has two children aged three and one, must pay him £50 after she admitted threatening behaviour, assault and a charge of failing to surrender to bail. A charge of resisting a police officer was withdrawn.

Jane Large, prosecuting, said police had been called to Park Green because a group of girls were causing a disturbance outside Yates's Wine Lodge.

Miss Large said: "Grainger was seen to headbutt the menu board and started to punch it."

Magistrates heard that Grainger had left her purse inside the pub and one of the door staff had gone in to look for it.

"While that was happening the defendant was quite aggressive and quite loud. When another female came to the door the defendant launched herself at her and tried to throw at least two punches," said Miss Large.

Grainger was then arrested and put in a police van where she carried on shouting abuse.She then spat in an officer's hair.

Mark James, defending, said the group were kicked out by bouncers but Grainger was worried her purse was still inside.

"She had had far too much to drink. She is extremely ashamed," he added

Grainger was given an 18-month conditional discharge for both the assault and the threatening behaviour, to run concurrently. She was also ordered to pay £50 court costs.