A woman who had to be Pava sprayed as she tried to stop police arresting her boyfriend has been sentenced to community service and probation.

Shalane Mincher admitted obstructing police and provoking behaviour.

Magistrates ordered the 29-year-old to do 80 hours’ unpaid work in the next 12 months and put her on probation for a year.

Isle of Man Today previously reported that police were called by a member of the public on November 19, at 3.10am, after they saw a couple arguing at Senna Road in Douglas.

They reported that the woman had been hitting the male in the face and he had been pushing her back.

Police arrived and as they were putting the male in the back of their van, Mincher pushed past officers to try to get to him.

They tried to move her away but she resisted and swore at officers.

Mincher eventually had to be restrained on the ground, using Pava spray as she struggled with officers.

After being taken to police headquarters, she was later interviewed and said she had been ‘eight out of 10’ when asked how drunk she was.

She said that she had been out drinking with her boyfriend and had gotten upset after seeing messages on his phone.

Mincher admitted obstructing the police, saying she had been trying to break her boyfriend free, but that she could not remember most of the incident.

She told the police: ‘I’m very sorry. I need to stop drinking. I should have stayed out of it and gone home.’

Defence advocate Paul Glover asked for credit to be given for his client’s guilty pleas and admissions made to the police.

Mr Glover said that the probation report referred to personal issues and alcohol misuse, and that Mincher was a prime candidate for assistance from probation services.

Magistrates also ordered the defendant to pay £125 prosecution costs, which she will pay at a rate of £20 per fortnight, deducted from benefits.