A mother who pinched a policeman's bottom in a busy town centre has pleaded guilty to a sexual assault charge.

Rosie Smith, 41, touched the copper's bottom while in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, in June.

The policeman said he was annoyed and embarrassed by her actions, and told her: 'That's assault, I could nick you for that.'

Neil Sweeney, prosecuting, told Maidstone Magistrates Court that Smith 'reached out and pinched his [the police man's] bottom, causing him to react.'

Rosie Smith, 41, pictured outside Maidstone Magistrates Court, pinched a policeman's bottom while in Tunbridge Wells town centre in Kent. She pleaded guilty to a sexual assault charge

He said the officer: 'Turned around to see her stood next to him. The officer warned her about the behaviour, saying "that's assault, I could nick you for that."

'They engaged in a conversation about her brother who died last year.'

The court heard that after the officer was called away, one onlooker complained to police and said they found Smith's behaviour shocking and demeaning.

The policeman said he was annoyed and embarrassed after the incident in Kent (file picture of Tunbridge Wells)

Ben Pite, representing Smith, said his client had since apologised to the officer.

He said Smith was dealing with 'difficult family circumstances' as a mother of three children and the legal guardian of a fourth.

Smith, of Tunbridge Wells, pleaded guilty to sexual assault and one count of breaching a criminal behaviour order.

As she was serving a suspended prison sentence when she committed the offence, Smith faced being sent to prison.

Chairman of the bench Dennis Fuller said: 'These are quite serious matters, in the circumstances they're all at the lowest level in our judgment.

'We're not applying for compensation as there was no physical injury and the policeman's response at the time does not appear to warrant it.'

Telling Smith that she would not be sent to prison, Mr Fuller suspended her suspended sentence for a further six months.

She was also given a 12-month community order, and will have to carry out 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days in that period as well as paying £175 costs.