Never miss a thing from across Yorkshire! Get the biggest stories direct to your inbox Subscribe Thank you for subscribing See our privacy notice Invalid Email

A woman damaged two police cars in a bid to distract officers when they arrested her partner over a stabbing.

Jane Hardy urinated in one vehicle and keyed another as she tried to divert their attention away as they detained him.

The 52-year-old alcoholic was ordered to pay £400 compensation to West Yorkshire Police.

She pleaded guilty to two charges of criminal damage when she appeared at Kirklees Magistrates' Court.

Police were called Hardy's address in Hare Park Avenue, Liversedge, on June 21.

Shamalia Qureshi, prosecuting, said: “Police attended to a report of a male being stabbed and bleeding.

“They spoke with Ms Hardy's partner and arrested him.

“While they were trying to deal with this matter the defendant became obstructive and attempted to divert their attention away.”

In doing so Hardy caused damage to the first police car, a Vauxhall Astra, by scratching the bonnet with a key.

She then wet herself in the second vehicle, a Peugeot 308, Mrs Qureshi said.

Mrs Qureshi told magistrates: “She urinated on the back seat of the vehicle whilst the defendant was detained in that vehicle."

The damage to the two cars cost an estimated £400 to fix, with the Peugeot requiring a deep clean.

Hardy was initially offered a police caution on the condition that she paid for the damage but she said she couldn't afford it.

Paul Blanchard, mitigating, described the case as 'unfortunate'.

He said: “This is a lady with an alcohol problem.

“She was handcuffed and placed in the rear of the police vehicle.

“She says she needed to go and they wouldn't let her.”

Mr Blanchard said that Hardy had stayed out of trouble for some time until 2017 when alcohol began to play a part in her offending again.

He told magistrates that it's “impossible for her to pay for the damage” because she is on Employment and Support Allowance.

Magistrates gave her a 12 month conditional discharge, meaning that she will not be punished if she stays out of trouble during that period.

She was ordered to pay police £400 compensation and £85 court costs.