A WOMAN told a court that she obstructed police who were trying to arrest her partner because she “owed him her life”.

Police attended the address of Lynne Saddleton, 31, looking for the man to arrest him, Workington Magistrates’ Court was told.

Pamela Fee, prosecuting, said police were knocking on doors and windows for some time but the defendant refused to let officers in.

Both the front door and porch door were locked. Saddleton came out and locked the front door before coming out of the porch.

Officers explained if she didn’t unlock the door, they would be snapping the lock. She continued to argue.

Ms Fee said the police officer then approached the door and Saddleton started to push the officer out of the porch and locked the door.

Saddleton was warned she would be arrested for police obstruction.

When officers entered the property, they found the defendant’s partner underneath a duvet on the bed.

Ms Fee said it was a deliberate obstruction and a waste of police resources. Additional officers had to attend with a lock snapper.

Saddleton, who was not legally represented, said: “Basically, I stopped the police getting in because I owed that guy my life. I phoned him 24 hours previously in a state of panic.”

She said the man had stopped her from taking her own life.

“I was in no fit state for having police in my property. I explained what happened. No compassion was given.

“I didn’t push the police officers. I stood with my arms folded. The only reason I stopped them was because I owed that man my life.”

Saddleton, of The Ferns, Egremont, pleaded guilty to obstructing a police officer in execution of his duty.

Magistrates fined the defendant £80 and ordered her to pay £85 costs and a £32 victim surcharge.

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