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Girl, 18, admits to biting Pc

From the archive, first published Friday 14th Oct 2005.

CHIPPENHAM NEWS: A TEENAGER who bit a policewoman turned to drink after two close friends died within a year, a court heard.

Kirsty Turner, 18, of Doveys Terrace, Kington Langley, pleaded guilty to assaulting a policewoman after drinking a bottle of Archers in just two hours.

Car crash victim Nicky Gough, 21, of Brook Street, Chippenham, was one of Turner's best friends and she lived on the same street as his fiancé Colette Holbrook, 20, who was driving, when they both died in an accident near Derry Hill earlier this year.

Last October another friend, Clifford Saunders, 18, of Hungerdown Lane, Chippenham, committed suicide by jumping off a bridge onto the M4.

John Elliott, defending at Chippenham magistrates' court on Thursday, said: "As far as the Derry Hill crash was concerned, she was visiting the family at the time the crash was brought to their attention so she went through the trauma with that family and it has affected her badly."

Nicola Jennings, prosecuting, said police went to Turner's mother's home on September 17 and she was not there.

When they turned to leave they saw Turner walking towards them in an aggressive manner.

Pc Elizabeth Porter attempted to stop her and Turner flung an arm at her head and, when the officer tried to restrain her, she was bitten on the arm.

Turner resisted arrest and while in the police car on the way to Melksham police station, hurled abuse at the officers and spat at Pc Porter.

Ms Jennings said Tuner later told police she had drunk a bottle of Archers between 8pm and 10pm that evening and could not remember anything that happened.

While being held in a cell at Melksham she damaged items belonging to the police, including a blanket and pillows.

Mr Elliot said months of trauma with no professional counselling had taken its toll on Turner.

She was ordered to pay £100 compensation and to carry out 40 hours of unpaid work.

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