A woman has been convicted of assault after she bit a police officer on the bottom.

Joanne Laurinda Watterson, of Johnny Watterson’s Lane, in Willaston, admitted the offence and will be sentenced on May 15 after a probation report has been prepared.

Prosecutor Barry Swain told the court how, on March 11, police were called to a flat at Belmont Terrace in Douglas after reports of a disturbance there and screaming being heard.

When officers attended tehey found Watterson, aged 36, 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.

Police officers tried to calm things down but the situation was said to be getting out of hand and Watterson was arrested.

As she was handcuffed, she struggled against officers and at one stage 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.

Defending Watterson in court her advocate Ian Kermode handed in a basis of plea for his client and a letter of apology.

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

She said the door was locked so she had been banging on it.

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

Mr Kermode asked for a probation report to be prepared before sentencing and Deputy High Bailiff Jayne Hughes said that the report should consider all options, including custody.

Bail was granted in the sum of £500 with conditions that Watterson reside at her home address, contact probation, and not leave the island without permission.