A drunk woman who was spotted running across a road into oncoming traffic later spat in a police officer's face and then bit a detention officer's hand.

Karen Goodman, 44, had been seen by concerned members of the public acting in an erratic manner in Upper Stone Street, Maidstone, on December 2 last year and police were called.

When officers arrived and tried to help, Goodman started called them names such as s*****c and c***s and was arrested for being drunk and disorderly.

She started to become even more aggressive when she was put in a cell at Maidstone police station and spat in a female officer's face.

Then, as she was being walked into a cell with the help of a detention officer, she bit him on the left hand.

Goodman of Langley Way, Kings Hill, was later charged with two counts of assault on an emergency worker and one count of being drunk and disorderly and pleaded guilty to all three charges when she appeared before magistrates in Maidstone on January 3.

Debbie Jones, prosecuting, told the court both officers had given victim impact statements and both had said they were just trying to help Goodman and got assaulted instead.

Ms Jones added: "One officer said she (Goodman) had been treated with respect and the officer was upset with being attacked while at work."

The court also heard Goodman has previous convictions for similar matters.

Jagmohan Takk, defending, told the court Goodman was on benefits as she suffered from mental health issues and had suffered traumatic experiences in her younger life. She had used alcohol as a crutch mechanism to cope with that.

Mr Takk added: "She was overcome with emotion. She can't remember what happened she was so drunk."

The court also heard she was very ashamed of her behaviour and wants to address her alcohol and mental health issues.

Magistrates decided to place Goodman on a 12-month community order which will include a nine-month alcohol treatment programme.

She was also ordered to attend 20 rehabilitation sessions and pay the officers £150 compensation each.