Woman found naked from waist down jailed after attacking police officer trying to cover her

A woman who was naked from the waist down attacked a police officer who was trying to cover her with a blanket in a Bury St Edmunds street, a court has heard.

Sophie Clarke, 21, was found in Mill Road on October 19 last year by officers responding to reports from members of the public.

Clarke, of Chalk Road South, Bury, was yesterday jailed for a total of nine months at Ipswich Crown Court.

She had admitted an offence of affray, two of assaulting a police officer and being in breach of a conditional discharge.

Prosecuting, Joanne Eley said Clarke, who appeared to be drunk and was asking to see her boyfriend, was naked from the waist down and had kicked out when a police officer attempted to cover her with a blanket. The officer was struck on the knee.

Miss Eley said that while at a police investigation centre, Clarke had spat at a female police officer.

The court heard that the sentencing of Clarke had been deferred from April to provide her with the opportunity to show that she could behave herself.

Passing sentence, Judge Rupert Overbury said during the intervening period, Clarke had assaulted three other police officers for which she was due to appear in court next month.

Judge Overbury said he had a duty to protect those serving the public and imposed an immediate nine month prison sentence.

Appearing for Clarke, Declan Gallagher said his client had had a difficult life and was "vulnerable."