A WOMAN from Ellesmere Port who bit a police sergeant at the Countess of Chester Hospital has been fined and ordered to pay him compensation.

Stephanie Boland, 35, admitted assaulting Sgt Andrew Burrage while drunk after she’d been taken to the A&E department on September 7.

Chester Magistrates Court heard on Thursday (October 10) that he had been called to the hospital following reports of a female patient being “aggressive” with security staff.

Rob Youds, prosecuting, said Sgt Burrage and colleagues arrived to see Boland on a stretcher in a cubicle “kicking out” at staff around her.

Her friend, Claire Finlay, 38, was also present and both were “very intoxicated”.

“Miss Boland was being restrained,” Mr Youds said. “She was shouting that she was going to f***ing punch and f***ing kick those in the room.

“Miss Boland has then lurched forward and has bitten him [Sgt Burrage] on the right hand. He felt instant pain on his right hand and on his knuckles, and reddening.”

This was going on while other patients and members of the public were nearby.

Meanwhile, Finlay was also becoming “irate and aggressive” and wouldn’t leave the area so was arrested for being drunk and disorderly – a charge to which she later pleaded guilty.

Stephen Ferns, defending both women, said Boland had been diagnosed with possible post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and has “issues in relation to bereavement and mental health”.

She has one previous conviction for assaulting a police officer in 2011.

Magistrates handed her a 12-month community order to include 35 days of rehabilitation activity and a three-month alcohol treatment programme.

Boland, of Durham Court in Ellesmere Port, was also fined £90 and ordered to pay Sgt Burrage £100 in compensation.

Finlay, who has three previous convictions, was said to be very remorseful about what happened.

“She can’t explain what she’s done,” added Mr Ferns.

Finlay, of Brancepeth Court in Ellesmere Port, was fined £80 and must also pay court costs of £85 and a £32 victim surcharge, which goes into a national pot to support victims of crime. The cash will be deducted from her benefits.