A Falmouth woman with a "truly shocking" criminal record has narrowly escaped being sent to prison for breaching a criminal behaviour order and assaulting a police officer.

Gennette Iris Ford, 37, of Dracaena Avenue, Falmouth turned up intoxicated when she arrived at Truro Magistrates' Court for sentencing on Tuesday.

She was committed to prison for 18 weeks suspended for 12 months for the assault on the police officer and committed to prison for 15 weeks suspended for 12 months for the breach of the criminal behaviour order.

Magistrates said the reason for giving her custody, albeit suspended, was her prolific record which was "truly shocking" for the public.

The court heard that on April 16 this year Ford went to Falmouth Town Centre and caused a nuisance which she was prohibited from doing by a criminal behaviour order made by Cornwall Magistrates' Court on April 28, 2021. She pleaded guilty.

The charge of assaulting a police officer read that on April 16 at Camborne she assaulted PC 7530 May, an emergency worker, acting in the exercise of her functions as such a worker, by beating her to which she pleaded guilty

For these offences she must also have treatment for alcohol dependency by, or under the direction of, We Are With You for 12 months and must attend appointments. She must also pay compensation of £100 to PC May. Her guilty pleas were taken into account when imposing sentence. There was no order for costs.