A woman who was taken into custody on suspicion of drink-driving proceeded to bite a police officer.

On December 17, Courtney Purnell called the police saying that she was not well enough to drive home.

Officers arrived at the scene on Holcombe Avenue in Lynn at 5.30am, where Purnell’s white Mini One was partially obstructing traffic.

A roadside breath test revealed that Purnell had 68mcg of alcohol per 100ml of breath. The legal limit to drive is 35mcg.

She was taken into custody, where she was required to complete more tests – but things began to turn sour.

Purnell, of Station Road in Walpole St Andrew, began to pull the tubes for further drink-drive tests from her arms and bit the police officer conducting the test.

The 29-year-old appeared at Lynn Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, where she tearfully admitted failing to provide a specimen for analysis and assaulting a police officer.

Purnell also admitted drug-driving on an earlier date of September 18.

On that occasion, she was pulled over when she had 62mcg of cannabis per 100ml of blood, with the legal limit being 20mcg.

Magistrates decided a pre-sentence report should be carried out before Purnell is sentenced.

This news seemed to upset Purnell even further, who broke into tears when leaving the courtroom.

In mitigation, Ruth Johnson explained the profound effect the events have had on her.

“Ms Purnell is one of the most affected defendants as far as mental health is concerned that I have dealt with in a long time,” Ms Johnson said.

“She is traumatised overall, and she recognises her wrongdoing. She has expressed remorse for her behaviour.”

Ms Johnson said that Purnell was having a “mental health crisis” on the day she bit the police officer.

Purnell was handed an interim driving disqualification lasting until she is due to appear back at the Lynn court on March 19.

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