Woman spat in police special constable's eye on his birthday - after threatening to stab new friend in anger over Facebook post

Rebecca Cullerton, 26, of Shakespeare Street, Southwick, Sunderland, kicked off soon after she visited a new acquaintance , a court heard.

Without warning, she blew her top about a Facebook post while at his South Shields flat on Sunday, May 17.

Prosecutor Lesley Burgess said Cullerton picked up a knife and made threats to smash the place up – and said she would stab the man if he came near her.

On her way out, she used the knife to inflict £100 of damage to a door – and the shocked homeowner called police, magistrates in South Tyneside were told.

Ms Burgess added: “She made threats to smash up the flat and would smash his head with a vase.

“She picked up a knife and said that if he came near her, she would stab him.

“The damage is caused by the knife against a door. She leaves on her own with the knife. Police find the knife nearby.

“While in custody, she again behaves abusively and is threatening and she spits in the officer’s face.

“It hit him in the left eye and went all over his left cheek.”

In a victim statement read to the court, special constable James Kennedy said it had been his birthday and he found the spitting act “disgusting”.

Joanne Gatens, defending, said: “Part of the problem is that she has a low IQ and learning difficulties. She is a vulnerable lady who needs support.

“I think it’s accepted that custody is a possibility for the spitting offence, in the current climate.”

Magistrates handed Cullerton, who pleaded guilty to assaulting an emergency worker, for which she faced six months in jail, and causing criminal damage, an 18-month community order.

She must complete 25 days’ rehabilitation work with the Probation Service and pay SPC Kennedy £200 compensation and her other victim £100, and there was a £95 victim surcharge.

Kaye Gilbert, chair of the bench, told Cullerton: “Spitting isn’t very nice. You have the opportunity to turn your life around.”

A message from the Editor:

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our advertisers - and consequently the revenue we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription.

You can subscribe to this website and enjoy unlimited access to local news and information online and on our app. With a digital subscription, you can read more than 5 articles, see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Simply click ‘Subscribe’ in the menu. You can subscribe to the newspaper with 20% off here: https://www.localsubsplus.co.uk/

Thank you.