A SINGLE mum-of-three who spat in a policewoman's face after she was arrested for drunkenly wandering around armed with a hammer has been spared prison.

Katie Baines, 31, must pay just £100 in compensation for the shocking assault, which happened during a violent struggle at a hospital.

The mum apologised in court after judges heard she spat in the officer's eye and broke body-worn video worth £150.

Officers were forced to put Baines in leg restraints and handcuffs after she struggled during the arrest.

The mum, from Droylsden in Greater Manchester, later blamed her violent behaviour on mental health difficulties – and claimed she armed herself with the hammer with her for ''self-defence".

Baines faced up to a year in court after admitting assaulting an emergency worker at Manchester Magistrates' Court this week.

Instead, she was handed an 18-month community order and told to pay £240 in costs and fines, as well as £100 compensation.

Magistrates heard officers were called on June 18 after red-haired Baines was spotted walking in an 'erratic manner' with a wooden mallet in her hand.

Laura Peers, prosecuting, said members of the public feared the defendant would smash up shops with the hammer.

"Police attended and found the defendant trying to hide behind a bin.

"She was arrested and cautioned for use of an offensive weapon.

'IT'S NO WAY TO GET YOUR CHILDREN BACK'

"She was taken to a police van, but refused to get inside it, and had to be restrained."

Officers took her to hospital, and Baines asked to leave, but when she was told she couldn't she became "physically aggressive", it was heard.

"She broken the body-worn video camera from the officer's vest and needed to be placed in handcuffs and leg restraints," the prosecutor said.

"She then spat at a PC."

Seraj Khan, mitigating, said: "She has a history of mental health issues and has resorted to alcohol.

"She didn't have the confidence to leave her house and only left with the hammer as she thought'd it'd give her self-defence.

"As a result of being drunk, she brandished the weapon, but at no point did she intend to assault anyone."

The court heard Baines' children are being cared for by her sister.

Mr Khan said: "She wants to address her alcohol misuse and fight for custody of her children."

Chair of the bench Martin Barlow told the defendant: "You've obviously had very disturbing happenings going on in your life, and it's unfortunate that you brandished the hammer.

"It was dangerous and you should have in mind that someone could have taken it from you and used it on you.

"You could have gone to prison today for brandishing that hammer, and that is no way to get your children back."

As she left the dock, Baines said: "I can only apologise."

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