Female PC had to Pava spray frenzied passenger at side of A47 in King's Lynn

A female police officer was assaulted by a woman in a frenzied attack beside a busy main road in Lynn.

Police had pulled over a car containing Zoe Jones after a member of the public reported seeing an offence.

Lynn Magistrates’ Court was told on Thursday that Jones, 42, got out of the car while the driver was being dealt with.

She refused to take instruction from PC Imogen Douglas-de-Fenzi not to get involved and started to become aggressive. A scuffle ensued and the officer’s earpiece was knocked out so she didn’t know if help was on the way.

Mrs Holland said: “The officer managed to [Pava] spray her and continues to try and get Mrs Jones under some sort of control.

“[Jones] tries to bite the officer and manages to scratch the officer’s chest.”

Jones was eventually taken to the floor and further officers arrived to help arrest her.

In a victim personal statement read to the court, the officer, who suffered cuts to her arms and face, described how the incident had quickly escalated after she acted to ensure the safety of Jones and herself by the side of the A47.

“I put my hands on her to usher her away from the road,” she wrote.

Jones, pleaded guilty to common assault and assault by beating of an emergency worker, obstructing a police officer and using threatening behaviour in the incident on June 12, 2021.

David Charman, mitigating, said the offences were “completely out of character” for his client.

He said she had been drinking in Hunstanton and a member of the public had called police after witnessing an incident involving her.

Mr Charman added: “It was a very unusual reaction from Zoe, shouting and swearing and trying to head-butt the officer. It’s fortunate the lady officer didn’t have any serious injuries."

Mr Charman said his client suffers from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

Jones, of Broad Street, Syston, Leicestershire, was given 150 hours’ unpaid work as part of a 12-month community order.

She was ordered to pay £100 compensation to PC Douglas-de-Fenzi and costs and victim surcharge of £200.