A woman who spat at a police officer on a night out has been sentenced to community service.

Nikia Jade Potts, aged 21, of Glen Road, admitted being drunk and disorderly and assaulting a police officer.

She was ordered by magistrates to do 100 hours of unpaid work in the next 12 months.

Police were on patrol on Loch Promenade on May 31 at 2.05am when they saw Potts being escorted out of Bordello’s nightclub by security staff. The staff asked police to assist and officers asked Potts to leave the area.

She started swearing at police saying: ’You’re an embarrassment.’ Potts started to walk away but changed her mind and started swearing at police again.

She was handcuffed and taken to a police van. She then spat at one officer with the spittle landing on his hand and trouser leg.

Potts was tearful as her advocate Jane Gray said: ’Ms Potts is extremely remorseful and disappointed with how she behaved.

’She is a person of good character which she has now lost.

’She has written a letter of apology to the police and plans to take that in by hand. She has also asked for a meeting to apologise in person.’

Ms Gray said Potts had been demoted in her job as a result of the incident.

Potts was also ordered to pay £125 costs.