More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
A serial shop lifter spat at a police officer, threw water over a nurse and then urinated in a police van, a court heard.
Her "disgusting" actions sparked an unusual response from Kent’s Chef Constable Alan Pughsley who wrote a victim impact statement.
The letter – given to the judge but not read out loud in court – expressed his concerns about protecting his staff from such incidents.
It followed Louisa Deighton’s attacks on two emergency workers and four police officers.
The 33-year-old, from Chesterfield Close, Orpington, had been arrested for a robbery and eight thefts from the Boots store in High Street in Sevenoaks in April and May, involving £4,500 worth of cosmetics.
Maidstone Crown Court heard that such was the concern by police and emergency staff that the Chief Constable took the unusual step of writing a statement.
Prosecutor Iestyn Morgan said it outlined the Chief Constable's desire to protect his staff from attacks.
No-one was physically injured in any of the incidents.
Mr Morgan said there had been “a series of shopliftings at Boots the Chemist in High Street, Sevenoaks".
He added: “The total amount of products taken was round about £5,000 and the last of the thefts involved her being confronted by a shop worker, who recognised Deighton and approached her.
“She asked Deighton to return the items and leave the store and Deighton replied that she could do what she wants and if the assistant didn’t get out of the way she would hurt her.
“She then continued to take items from the shelf before leaving the store.
"She was arrested in a car and taken into custody," he added.#
Mr Morgan said Deighton then complained of suffering withdrawal symptoms and was taken to Pembury Hospital.
The heroin addict demanded special medicines but was told by the nurse she could only have codeine and threw a glass of water over the nurse.
Mr Morgan said that as she was taken to a police van she tried to kick out at one officer before urinating in the van on the journey.
At Tunbridge Wells she was asked to hand over her hairband but refused and spat at an officer before throwing her head towards another officer and kicked yet another officer in the groin.
Deighton, who admitted 16 charges of robbery, assaults, damaging property and thefts, then shouted out from the dock: “I just want to say that I am sorry.
"I need professional help. I also need help with my mental health."
Her barrister Emin Kandola said the mother of two had “simply lost control and now accepts that that is unacceptable".
She was jailed for a total of 12 months that she had taken the cosmetics in order the sell to feed her habit.
Judge Julian Smith told her: “When you were confronted by the shop assistant you became belligerent and aggressive and carried on helping yourself.”
District Commander, Chief Inspector Nick Finnis said: ‘My officers are required to attend challenging and sometimes volatile situations on a daily basis to protect our communities from harm.
"Her conduct was completely unacceptable and it is right she has been jailed."
