A MUM has avoided being jailed after assaulting a police officer.

A court heard how mum-of-three Derian Lee Duff assaulted an officer who was called out over concerns for one of her children.

She was said to have punched the officer and used handcuffs ‘as a weapon’ after slipping her hand from the shackles and hitting out.

Appearing at South Cumbria Magistrates’ Court, the 25-year-old pleaded guilty to assaulting an emergency worker.

Prosecutor Lee Dacre told the court the incident happened on May 23 at the defendant’s home in Greengate Street in Barrow.

He said: “Concerns had been raised for a young child.

“The defendant punched PC Sutherland in the face at the top of the stairs. She then became abusive towards the officer.”

Mr Dacre said the defendant then ‘slipped out of the handcuffs’ and hit the officer, leaving scratches.

He said the officer’s family had seen her come home injured and feared for her safety at work.

Duff was represented in court by Trystan Roberts.

He said the defendant had written a letter to the police officer and wanted to apologise to her in person,

He said the mum, a carer, suffered with post traumatic stress order and post-natal depression.

Mr Roberts argued Duff should not be sent to prison because her three young children would be separated if she were behind bars.

Duff was sentenced to 12 weeks in prison suspended for 18 months, ordered to pay £250 in compensation to PC Sutherland and given a 8pm to 6am curfew for the next 12 weeks.