NEWS: Girl's drunken attack 'one of the most violent' officer had experienced in his 22 years' service

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A TEENAGE girl who assaulted two police officers in Lostwithiel after drinking a litre of vodka has been given a suspended order of detention in a Young Offenders' Institution.

 

One of the officers vomited after being kicked and bitten by 18-year-old St Austell student Leander Tonkin.

 

He later described how it had been one of the worst and most violent incidents in his 22 years' police service.

 

Magistrates told Tonkin that she had shown "gross disregard" for police authority in carrying out a sustained assault during alcohol-fuelled disorder in a public place.

 

Tonkin, of Queen's Road, St Austell, appeared before Bodmin court on November 12 with 19-year-old Andrew Goodman, of Rock Lane, Bodmin.

 

Tonkin pleaded guilty to assaulting the constable and a sergeant and Goodman admitted resisting arrest. Both pleaded guilty to disorderly behaviour.

 

Jill Wilson, for the prosecution, said that because of previous problems with alcohol in the Fore Street and Parade area of Lostwithiel, the two officers were carrying out checks at around 10.30pm on October 22.

 

'Aggressive'

 

They saw a group of young people drinking from cans in a no-alcohol zone and saw some of them – including Goodman – throw cans to the ground.

 

The sergeant started to take people's names but as the constable spoke to Goodman he became aggressive. Tonkin, who smelt of alcohol, shouted and swore, telling the police: "Leave him alone". Despite a warning, she continued to swear in the presence of members of the public.

 

She then became "extremely violent", said Mrs Wilson.

 

As the constable continued to deal with Goodman, Tonkin lashed out, her arms and legs "flailing". She kicked the constable a glancing blow in the face.

 

Goodman, warned that a Tazser would be used, calmed down but as Tonkin was restrained on the bonnet of the police vehicle she kicked back into the sergeant's groin.

 

She then bit his arm and he was violently sick. The sergeant suffered swelling and a one-inch bitemark.