Melrose: Hotel cleaner bit police constable on the forearm

Alicja Labudda pleaded guilty to assaulting the officer at a house in Eildon Crescent, Melrose, on August 19 last year.

She also admitted threatening or abusive conduct by shouting and struggling with police constables.

Fiona Hamilton, prosecuting, said police officers turned up at the house at 10.30pm in order to trace Labudda's partner who was on bail not to contact her or enter that property.

She said: "They asked her if she knew where he was and she said she didn't. They searched the property and found the male within the house.

"When the officers tried to arrest him she jumped on one of them and said you are not taking him away from me.

"She was asked to get away so he could be arrested.

"But she refused and was shouting and was struggling with the officers.

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"She then bit a constable on the right forearm. He pulled his arm away and therefore escaped injury.

"He put one handcuff on the accused but could not get the other one on due to her struggling.

"More officers attended and the accused was able to be brought under control.

"When cautioned and charged she replied: 'I just want to say sorry.'"

Defence lawyer Ed Hulme explained that Labudda and her partner had moved to the UK a year ago and originally obtained work in London but had moved to the Borders.

He said she was unaware of what was going on when the police arrived at the house and what they were speaking to her partner for.

Mr Hulme said: "She was rather upset by their visit but apologises for her actions."

Labudda, now living at Woodstock venue in Galashiels, said it was unacceptable to bite a police officer who was going about his duty.

But it was taken into account she had no previous convictions or other matters outstanding and imposed the Community Pay Back Order with unpaid work as an alternative to a fine.