Thursday, 16 August 2018

Policewoman's Drunken Assaults On Fellow-Officers And Boyfriend

A drunken policewoman attacked two fellow-WPC’s in her home while screaming: “Where’s my f***ing Jack Daniels?” 

Police Constable Sarinda Trudy Welsh, 39, hurled her glass tumbler across the room, smashing it against a wall and had to be pulled away from a rack of knives.

Her twelve-year career with the Metropolitan Police is now in tatters and Bexley Magistrates Court heard yesterday she has tendered her resignation before an inevitable sacking.

Welsh, of Parkside Road, Belvedere, pleaded guilty to assaulting WPC’s Emma Cross and Amanda MacKerill on January 9.

She denied, but was convicted assaulting estranged long-term boyfriend Shane Gibson by clawing his wrist at the address on April 16.

Welsh also pleaded guilty to communicating false information to the police on June 5, namely that Mr. Gibson had punched her in the head.

Prosecutor Denise Clewes told the court: “Ms Welsh is currently still a serving police officer and has tendered her resignation, although she is suspended.

“She had been off work for a period of time because of problems she was having. She had been in rehab and was released the day before the first assaults.

“Police officers visited her to carry out a welfare check and when they arrived they found she had been drinking.

“She threw a glass tumbler that smashed against a wall and PC MacKerill says: ’She was shouting and swearing.’

“She reached for a knife rack and one of the officers pulled her back, fearing she would cut herself or someone else.

“She swung a baking tray in the direction of the officer that did not hit the officer.”

They attempted to put pyjama bottoms on Welsh before taking her to the police station, but she resisted. 

“She kicked PC Cross, causing minor tenderness to her left shin.”

Police were at the address again three months later. “Ms Welsh called them, saying her partner hit her in the face.

“Mr. Gibson answered the door and said she was drunk upstairs and had assaulted him while he was asleep.

“He said he pushed her when she tried to wake him up and she fell to the floor. She then dug her nails into his wrist, causing a number of small scratches.

“She said she had been punched in the head by Mr. Gibson because she was drunk and had been drinking vodka and whiskey the night before and had been an alcoholic for a long time.

“She said she woke him for work because he was lazy and he pushed her away and she fell to the floor and then called the police.”

Two months later Welsh called the police again, claiming her boyfriend was banging on her front door.

“When officers arrived her front door was open and Ms Welsh was asleep on the sofa and there was a strong smell of alcohol.

“She was very confused and said Mr. Gibson had punched her to the head and left.”

An ambulance was called and Welsh did not make a statement against her boyfriend to police, who became increasingly suspicious about her claim.

“Mr. Gibson was able to prove he was in Bristol all day and showed a receipt for coffee he bought on the M4 half an hour before the police were called.”

Her lawyer Heather Oliver told the court: “She is a woman of impeccable character, having served twelve years with the police and before that was a legal secretary.

“She has expressed remorse and embarrassment and accepts she was reckless rather than having an intention to hurt the officers.

“On officer was trying to put her pyjama bottoms on and she was lashing out and caught her with her bare foot.”

Welsh was sentenced to a 12-month community order, which includes a 60-day alcohol treatment requirement and a 15-day rehabilitation requirement.

She must also pay £300 costs and an £85 victim surcharge and was made subject to an indefinite restraining order prohibiting contact with Mr. Gibson.

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