A woman who admitted biting a policewoman on the bottom has been sentenced to community service.

Joanne Laurinda Watterson, of Johnny Watterson’s Lane, in Douglas, must do 200 hours unpaid work as a direct alternative to 16 weeks custody and also pay £250 compensation to the officer.

We previously reported how, on March 11, police were called to a flat at Belmont Terrace in Douglas after reports of a disturbance there.

When officers attended they found 36-year-old Watterson and a man inside.

Watterson had a cut on her eyebrow and was said to be smelling of alcohol, unsteady on her feet and slurring her words.

The situation was said to be getting out of hand and Watterson was arrested.

As she was handcuffed she struggled against officers, during which she ended up on the sofa behind one policewoman.

Watterson was said to have bitten the policewoman on the bottom through her clothing on the right hand side.

The bite did not break the skin and no medical treatment was required.

In a basis of plea, Watterson said she had been out drinking and had gone back to her partner’s flat but fell on the staircase, cutting her eyebrow.

Watterson said while she was being arrested she had recklessly bitten the woman’s buttock while it was close to her head.

Defending Watterson in court advocate Ian Kermode said that his client had been out socialising on the night in question.

’She consumed a substantial amount of alcohol and returned to her partner’s apartment,’ said the advocate.

’She fell on the stairs and cut her head.

’She accepts there was a struggle with police and she has bitten the police officer on the buttock.

’There were no punches or kicks.

’It has been accepted it wasn’t intentional and was a reckless act.

’No injuries were caused, there was no breaking of skin. No medical treatment was required.’

Watterson was also ordered to pay £125 prosecution costs.