Katrina Gilchrist barricaded herself in house and assaulted three cops’ A woman who assaulted someone in Newcastle-under-Lyme town centre has been jailed. Katrina Gilchrist, 29, hit her victim with a green bottle after a verbal altercation on November 27 last year.
Katrina Gilchrist barricaded herself in house and assaulted three cops
Gilchrist, of Oliver Road, Hartshill, then, while on a community order, assaulted three police officers who were trying to arrest her for breaching her terms of bail. She was convicted of one count of assault causing actual bodily harm and another of three counts of assaulting an emergency worker.
Now the 29-year-old, who suffers from alcohol dependency, has been handed a 10-month jail sentence.
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Prosecuting, Ms Liz Power said: “On November 27 at 10.30am, there was a verbal altercation where the defendant shouted to the victim “You’re a rat, I know what you are.” After having a drink, the defendant was walking past Ironmarket News and was feeling annoyed.
“The defendant had a green bottle and approached the victim and using the right arm swung with a bottle which connected instantly with the side of the victim’s forehead. CCTV footage shows the defendant running before striking. She said she had thrown the glass bottle and didn’t intend to hit her on the head. She said she was an alcoholic and she needed help.
“After she failed to attend court on February 24 she was spotted by two police officers on Liverpool Road on February 25. They went to speak to her as she was wanted on warrant. She said that she had a letter that allowed her to be out at a property in nearby Brindley Street. Officers agreed to follow her to retrieve the letter. Once there, she darted inside.
“The defendant barricaded themselves in there as officers attempted to reason with her. The decision was made to re-enter the property and a struggle ensued. She kicked out at officers as they tried to restrain her.”
Katrina Gilchrist Arrested For Assault
Defending, Mr Rob Holt said: “The defendant appears having been arrested on February 25 following a non-appearance on February 24. Having been at the police station she was bailed.
“The underlying factor is simply the virtue of alcohol consumption. If she consumes alcohol to excess she develops a violent temperament. The pre-sentencing report discusses the dangerous issue and there is the conclusion that there may well be a scope for rehabilitation. I acknowledge she has crossed the custody threshold and there is a package of measures in length including the subject to a suspended sentence.
“She has displayed genuine remorse to me and she has been consulting with the psychiatric advisor. She has done as much as she could do.
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“She was polite to staff and peers. We will see the scope and ask you to consider a suspended sentence order.”
Sentencing Gilchrist to 10 months imprisonment, at least half of which is to be spent in custody, Judge Graeme Smith said: “The most serious instance is the assault. I have watched the CCTV and you hit her over the head. You caused her to have a nasty cut and it was very dangerous.; it was completely unprovoked, even though there had been a verbal altercation between you.
“I accept you were under the influence of alcohol. You assaulted three officers in February this year, there were no significant injuries however no one working should be expected to receive that sort of behaviour.
“You have made good progress in custody however it is worrying you committed this assault while subject to a community order. You have previous convictions of violence however you have demonstrated genuine remorse.”
