Published date: 19 January 2016 |
Published by: Staff reporterRead more articles by Staff reporterEmail reporter
A DRUNKEN woman threatened police officers with a crossbow.
Donna Katherine Arrowsmith, of Allington Drive, Caia Park, appeared at Wrexham Magistrates Court yesterday charged with using threatening behaviour.
Prosecutor Helen Tench told the court that at 7.45am on December 29, Arrowsmith’s partner called police after she threatened to harm herself.
She was known by police for possessing sharp objects and officers arrived to find her standing in the front window.
The 22-year-old, who had cloth around her forearms, was slurring her words and “appeared drunk”.
She held up a handheld crossbow and was told by police to put it down and not point it at them.
Instead, Arrowsmith showed officers a dart and armed the crossbow.
Police, who were becoming increasingly concerned for members of the public who were on their way to work and school, armed themselves with tasers and hid behind a nearby hedge.
Arrowsmith shouted “Don’t come near me” and her partner left the property after she became abusive.
As police negotiators and firearms officers arrived to assist, Arrowsmith held the crossbow up to her left temple and threatened to use it on herself before closing the curtains.
She returned with a kitchen knife and brandished both weapons at police.
Eventually Arrowsmith was taken to hospital in an ambulance, where she was treated for the wounds to her arms and arrested afterwards.
Probation officer Andrew Connah said Arrowsmith accepted full responsibility for her actions.
He added: “She understands she could have placed the officers in fear for their safety.
“She would like the court to know the safety catch was always on during the incident. She apologises for her behaviour.”
He told the court Arrowsmith had not drunk alcohol since moving in with her father because it had played a major role in the incident.
Ian Barnes, defending, said Arrowsmith had consumed a large amount of alcohol, which was the main factor behind what happened.
He said Arrowsmith was on medication for mental health issues and had recently had her prescription increased.
But that had caused some adverse side effects so she stopped taking it and started feeling depressed.
Mr Barnes added: “This was not a case of her wanting to harm anyone. Pointing the crossbow at the officers was unpleasant to say the least but the safety catch was on.”
Chairman of magistrates Kathleen Cottle sentenced Arrowsmith to four months in prison, suspended for 12 months.
She also ordered her to carry out a 20-day rehabilitation activity requirement.
see-http://www.leaderlive.co.uk/news/157425/woman-aimed-crossbow-at-police-officers-in-caia-park.aspx
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