UPDATE: A WOMAN pepper sprayed by a PSO in a scuffle outside Frankston Magistrates’ Court yesterday has now been charged with assault offences.

Police confirmed the 41-year-old Franskton woman had been charged with assault offences and released pending summons.

It follows a clash with a PSO outside the court yesterday which left the woman lying handcuffed and crying on the ground in front of distressed onlookers.

The woman screamed for assistance and said her eyes were burning after she was also pepper sprayed by the male officer about midday.

Witnesses told Leader the officer was “over the top” in his actions, with several people saying he had kicked and hit the woman to the ground before spraying her.

“She wasn’t doing anything and had not made any threats,” one witness said.

media_camera The woman on the ground before she was led to the divisional van.

But according to the police media unit, the incident occurred after the woman allegedly threatened two PSOs and bit one of them.

“Police and PSOs arrested a woman in Fletcher Rd, Frankston just before midday [yesterday] for assault and being drunk in a public place,” a police media statement read.

“During the arrest, the 41-year-old Frankston woman threatened to assault the two PSOs before allegedly biting one of them on the finger.

“During the arrest, OC foam was deployed. The investigation continues.”

media_camera Several witnesses said the treatment of the woman was heavy-handed.

The woman, who had just dropped her partner at court, had apparently been “mouthy” and had at one stage been on top of the blue wagon she was driving.

Leader was told by witnesses the protective services officer approached and told her to get out of the car, then forced the door open.

As the woman lay face down on the asphalt, she said: “They came and picked on me ... it’s terrible ... I’m in so much pain.”

The woman’s partner angrily paced the carpark as police officers spoke to her. He abused police and said they had hurt his girlfriend.

media_camera The woman was pepper sprayed. Police said she threatened two PSOs.

Lawyer Nickita Knight, who saw the incident, said it had been upsetting for everybody outside the court.

“Police breached their duty of care here, and there should be legal action as a result,” he said.

He also tried to calm the woman’s partner.

After about 10 minutes on the ground, police helped the woman to her feet and in to a divisional van.

An ambulance arrived but left the scene without paramedics assessing the woman. Police later confirmed the woman was not taken to hospital.