A WOMAN has been spared jail after assaulting three police officers while in custody.

Sharon Skimmings, of Portal Avenue, appeared at Wrexham Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

The 49-year-old admitted that on August 15, she assaulted three emergency workers.

Suzanne Cartwright, prosecuting, told the court that on the day of the offence Skimmings had been arrested and became "irate" in custody.

She was in toxicated and abusive, resisting being put in a cell.

As PC Daniel Brown walked backwards out of the cell, she turned and spat at him. He fortunately managed to move away without it making contact.

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Later, custody detention officer Michael Camplin checked on her, and became concerned she was trying to harm herself.

As he entered with PS Judith Mccolloch, he was slapped to the face by Skimmings.

PS Mcculloch made significant efforts to restrain her, but the defendant dug her nails into her hand - breaking the skin and drawing blood.

Ms Cartwright said the defendant has 11 convictions for 13 offences, five of which were offence against the person including a battery and assault emergency worker in 2021.

A member of the probation service told the court Skimmings wasn't able to give a full account of the events but didn't deny the officers' account.

"She feels embarrassed and ashamed," the probation officer told the court.

"She lost her brother and turned to alcohol in August 2022 as a coping mechanism."

However, the court heard Skimmings had substituted alcohol for crack and heroin - and had subsequently been referred to the Elms.

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Andy Holliday, defending, told the court his client can make positive changes in her life and asked that her guilty pleas be reflected in the sentence.

District Judge Gwyn Jones told the defendant: "Those officers were there to try and help you.

"Whatever the circumstances that led you to be at the police station, you were having significant difficulties in regulating your emotions in the custody suite.

"Spitting is totally offensive and in these times my starting point must be immediate custody."

The District Judge handed down a total custodial term of 52 weeks - but given her prospect of rehabilitation and her timely guilty plea, he suspended the sentence for 12 months, ordering her to undergo 20 days of rehabilitation work and a six-month drug rehabilitation requirement.

She was ordered to pay £150 compensation to each of the officers, as well as 85 costs.