A woman who spat in the face of a police officer who had arrested her for drink driving has appeared in court.

Sarah Michalek, 31, of Cowleaze, Purton, appeared in Swindon Magistrates Court today and pleaded guilty to drink driving, failing to stop following a road collision, child neglect, using threatening or abusive words/behaviour and three counts of assaulting an emergency worker.

She was disqualified from driving for 24 months, ordered to comply with a 12-month community order and required to pay £50 to each officer assaulted.

Michalek was driving a Vauxhall Astra on the evening of September 17 when she collided with a parked car in Lydiard Green, Lydiard Millicent, before leaving the scene with a child who had been in the car at the time.

She was later arrested and taken to the Great Western Hospital where she assaulted two police officers by kicking them, and another police officer by spitting in her face. She was also abusive to patients and staff at the hospital.

Sgt Katharine Smith said: "Michalek's actions on September 17 were unacceptable. To get behind the wheel of a car intoxicated is irresponsible and mindless. Not only that, but she had a child in the car with her. It is fortunate that nobody was seriously injured.

"We will take a robust approach to anyone caught drink driving and I hope this case sends a clear message that getting behind the wheel of a car whilst intoxicated is not worth the risk - you are putting lives, including your own, in danger and your actions could have serious consequences."

In an impact statement written by Chief Constable Kier Pritchard and provided to the court ahead of sentencing, he said: "My staff work tirelessly to protect the public from situations which may involve threat risk or harm, and will often place themselves into harm's way in order to undertake this duty.

"My staff have a right to go about their daily duty without the fear of being assaulted either physically or verbally, which is motivated by hostility, violence or physical assault of the person, which is a criminal offence."