A DEFENDANT from London who assaulted two police officers timed a break in south Cumbria to coincide with her court appearance.

Stephianne Black appeared in court for assaulting officers called to a Lake District spa when she refused to leave.

South Cumbria Magistrates' Court heard the 26-year-old was drunk and disorderly at the Lakes Hotel and Spa in Bowness on December 17 and refused to leave.

She later kicked PCs Dave Colvan and Emma Davis when they arrested her, the court heard.

Black admitted two charges of assaulting and being drunk and disorderly.

Prosecutor Lee Dacre said: "Police were asked to attend the Lakes Hotel and Spa. There was a report of a female causing issues and refusing to leave the premises.

"She was shouting and sweating at a staff member, she was clearly drunk.

"She continued to be disorderly."

He said police were called and she was taken into a police van.

"She then kicked out at one of the officers and punched the other in the face," he said.

Mr Dacre said the defendant was abusive to the officers "throughout" the journey to custody.

He said there were "no injuries" caused to the officer but "some discomfort clearly".

Mitigating, Michael Graham said: "Ms Black and her partner had come to Windermere for a spa weekend.

"She accepts on that day she drank some alcohol and to excess.

"It seems something was said to her by a member of staff."

Mr Graham said the argument with the staff member was the "catalyst" for the assaults on the police officers.

"She says she was wriggling and flailing about. She accepts she struck the officer," he said.

"When she got into custody at the station she immediately apologised to the female officer."

Black, of Renfrew Close in Newham, London, was initially sentenced to a curfew by magistrates.

But she asked if the start time could be negotiated because she had booked a trip to coincide with her court appearance, staying in a hotel outside Barrow. 

Black was instead sentenced to 80 hours of unpaid work.