Two women jailed after attacking police officers who tried to break up lockdown party

Two women attacked police officers who tried to break up an illegal house party during the coronavirus lockdown.
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Millie Robinson and Bayleigh Meadows, both 21, have been jailed after pleading guilty to assault following the incident in Eastbourne on April 8.

Police were called to Edgeland Terrace at about 9.45pm after reports of a gathering in breach of lockdown restrictions.

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When officers arrived they were verbally abused by the two women and threatened with being deliberately exposed to Covid-19.

Millie Robinson (left) and Bayleigh Meadows have both been jailed. Picture: Sussex PoliceMillie Robinson (left) and Bayleigh Meadows have both been jailed. Picture: Sussex Police
Millie Robinson (left) and Bayleigh Meadows have both been jailed. Picture: Sussex Police

Prosecutor Ryan Richter said that when the officers tried to break up the party, they were met with a ‘barrage of abuse’.

He said they were told by occupants that they "had a right to be at each other's flats".

At one point, Robinson turned to one of the officers and pursed her lips as if she was going to spit at him, saying: ‘I have got corona, watch out’, Lewes Crown Court heard.

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As the commotion spilled into a hallway, Robinson ended up on the floor and kicked out, catching an officer in the stab vest and leg, the court was told.

At this point, Meadows picked up a toilet roll holder that had a stone base and launched it at one of the officers, striking him in the head, the court heard.

He was left with a 2cm cut and huge lump on his head which had to be glued back together, the court was told.

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Both women, who are unemployed, were arrested appeared in court on May 11.

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Robinson, of Edgeland Terrace, Eastbourne, pleaded guilty to two charges of assaulting an emergency worker.

Meadows, of Lottbridge Drove, Eastbourne, pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

On June 12 Robinson was sentenced to six months imprisonment and Meadows to 12 months imprisonment.

Robinson's defence barrister Rebecca Upton said that she had found lockdown ‘extremely hard’ and felt ‘extremely isolated’, leading to a decline in her mental health.

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She said: ‘Unfortunately, she took it upon herself to try and feel better by consuming a large quantity of alcohol.’

Ms Upton said Robinson was distressed at the scene and showed immediate remorse, and asked that she be given a suspended sentence.

Adam James, representing Meadows, argued that the congregation was ‘not a party but a gathering’.

He said Meadows has underlying mental health issues and only has a ‘limited’ recollection of what happened.

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Investigating officer PC Carl Smith said: ‘The verbal and physical abuse our officers were faced with in this situation was absolutely disgraceful.

‘This happened during the height of the coronavirus lockdown period, when officers were continuing to do their job in challenging circumstances, focusing on talking to people and explaining the regulations in order for people to keep themselves safe.

‘To be met with such violence is completely unacceptable, and we hope this sentencing will send a message that assaults against emergency workers will not be tolerated.’

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