Woman stopped for speeding kicked at officers and smashed police van window

A Leicestershire woman caught by police while speeding through Skegness kicked out at the officers trying to deal with her and, after her arrest, smashed a window in a police van. As well as her speed, the officers discovered that Jodie O'Neill had no insurance, was alone in the car with only a learner licence and was also over the drink-drive limit.

The Lincolnshire case was transferred to Leicester Magistrates' Court. On Wednesday (November 20) O'Neill, of Wakeling View, Oadby, pleaded guilty to three driving offences and causing criminal damage to the van.

Prosecutor Tracy Lovejoy told the court about the incident, which happened in Roman Bank, Skegness, at about 10.30pm on Tuesday, October 8. She said: "Police noticed the vehicle was speeding and pulled it over.

READ MORE: Former soldier attacked girlfriend after row over takeaway

"When they spoke to the defendant she started being obstructive. She wouldn't give her details and she was abusive and was kicking out.

"She was put in a police van due to her behaviour and she kicked the window of the van." At a police station, O'Neill gave a reading of 68 microgrammes of alcohol per 100ml of breath - the legal limit is 35 microgrammes.

Ms Lovejoy said the speeding - which was not charged separately - was an aggravating factor of the drink-driving and the criminal damage was aggravated by the fact it was against police officers trying to investigate a crime.

Sandeep Kaushal, representing O'Neill, said his client had been driving because a friend she was with had bought a car but had been too drunk to drive it, making her drive it instead.

He said: "She travelled to Skegness by train so she could meet a friend who was going to buy a car. The friend let her down because he was intoxicated.

"She was also in drink but took the decision to drive the car to the nearest hotel." He was asked why O'Neill didn't walk to a hotel and he said her friend had pressured her to drive the car.

He said O'Neill client was "playing up" with the police officers due to her diagnosed personality disorder. He said: "Miss O'Neill is a young lady who keeps herself to herself and doesn't go out much.

"Coming to court today has been difficult for her." He said O'Neill had four children aged four to 16 and that her eldest was also her paid carer.

Mr Kaushal said his client had been upset that a male Lincolnshire Police officer had patted her down, which was why she had broken the window in the police van. He said: "The hands of a male touching her was not nice.

"She has no personal vengeance towards the police. Had it been a female police officer the criminal damage wouldn't have occurred.

"She wants to apologise to the police. She's severely embarrassed by what's occurred and I very much doubt we'll see her again before these courts."

O'Neill, who is on Universal Credit, was banned from driving for 20 months. She was fined £120 and ordered to pay £85 court costs and a £48 victim surcharge.

The chairman of the bench, Andre Timothy, told her: "These matters before us this morning are very serious. There was a risk to yourself and to other people."