A YOUNG woman became suicidal and highly agitated after the prescription medication she depended on suddenly ceased, a court heard.

The crisis came to a head for 26-year-old Leah Kennedy when she became involved in a struggle with four police officers who were sent to investigate reports of a disturbance in a London Road hotel.

During the struggle that followed, Kennedy accidentally caused a red mark to the arm of one of the officers, the court heard. She admitted assault.

Pam Ward, prosecuting, said that the officers were sent to the hotel on April 13 because of a disturbance in one of the rooms. They arrived there to find Kennedy sprawled on the floor, unresponsive. They immediately lifted her on to the bed.

But the defendant – in a highly agitated state – began screaming that she wanted to kill herself. This prompted the officers to decide that she should be detained, said Mrs Ward, though paramedics who were called to the scene said they had no concerns about Kennedy’s health.

A mental health crisis team were also contacted but said the police officers should proceed to deal with the defendant, added Mrs Ward.

During the struggle as officers tried to detain Kennedy, she threatened to slit their throats, said Mrs Ward. She also lashed out. It was only after the incident that one of the officers noticed a mark on his arm.

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Duncan Campbell, defending, said Kennedy, of Merith Avenue, Botcherby, had no recollection of the incident but felt totally ashamed of how she behaved. “She’d had a couple drinks but was by no means drunk,” said the lawyer.

“The alcohol played no part in this at all. She’s a lady who receives medication on a regular basis and unfortunately that medication ceased. Her partner tells me that this had a really adverse effect on the defendant.

“She was suffering from psychosis and this was totally out of character. She was unaware of what she was doing. She can only apologise for her conduct. She says it was not her intention to act in this way.

“She didn’t actually want to harm anybody.

“She has no recollection of the threats, and her record does not indication that she’s that type of person. The reason was the fluctuation in her medicine supply, which was out of her control.”

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Passing sentence, magistrates said they noted the role played in the incident by the fluctuation in Kennedy’s medication; and they also noted her remorse. They fined her £120, with an £84 surcharge and £85 costs.

Presiding magistrate Keith Southward told Kennedy: “We are satisfied that there was no intention to cause injury to the officer. You were panicking and it was down to the fluctuation in your medication.”