A woman who spat in the face of a police officer has been sentenced to 18 weeks in prison.

Sevana Francais, 46, had been asked by staff the leave the Aldi store in London Road, Bexhill, after drinking gin and wine while in the shop on Thursday (May 6th).

Francais, who was clearly intoxicated and had not paid for the drinks, refused to leave and became abusive towards staff and customers.

Police were called and arrested Francais on suspicion of theft from a shop. She resisted arrest and as officers tried to put her in the rear of the police car, she spat in the face of one of the officers.

She was subsequently arrested and charged on suspicion of theft from a shop and assaulting an emergency worker.

Francais, unemployed, of St Andrews Square, Hastings, pleaded guilty when she appeared at Brighton Magistrates’ Court on Friday.

She was sentenced to 18 weeks’ imprisonment for the offence of assaulting an emergency worker and four weeks for theft from a shop to run concurrently.

Investigating officer, PC Daren Spalding, said: “Emergency workers should not have to put up with such behaviour. While this type of assault has always been particularly offensive, since the Covid 19 pandemic it is also very worrying for the victim.

“The police will always prosecute in such circumstances and the sentence served on the offender on this occasion indicates how seriously the courts view the offence.”