(Image: North Yorkshire Police)
A young woman who threatened a paramedic and firefighter with a broken bottle has been sentenced to 12 months in a young offenders’ institution.
Jessica Louise Simms, 20, of The Crescent, Selby, appeared at York Magistrates’ Court where she was told her offences were so serious only an immediate custodial sentence could be justified.
Simms pleaded guilty to two counts of threatening a person with an offensive weapon (the broken bottle), criminal damage to a police cell, and breaching a community protection notice.
Jessica Louise Simms, 20, of Selby, has been jailed. (Image: North Yorkshire Police)
The offences occurred on September 17 when Simms threatened emergency workers who had come to her aid. After being arrested, she then damaged the police cell where she was taken.
On the same day, Simms entered Selby railway station in breach of the community protection notice that banned her from going there following convictions for assaulting a police officer, impersonating a police officer and causing the wasteful employment of police.
Recommended reads:
Although no penalty was imposed for breaching the order, she was re-sentenced for the offence of assaulting a police officer and given three months’ detention which will run concurrent to the 12-month sentence.
York Magistrates also ordered her to pay compensation of £79, a surcharge of £187.
Following sentencing at court, PC Emily Blackwell, of Selby Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “Jessica Simms’ actions have wasted countless hours of police, ambulance and other emergency service time, diverting resources away from genuine incidents and people who are in real need of assistance.
“Today's sentence sends a clear message that such behaviour is not a game and will not be tolerated. Emergency services exist to protect the public, safeguard vulnerable people and keep our communities safe.
"Those who deliberately waste these valuable resources can expect to be held accountable for their actions.
“I would like to thank the officers and partner agencies involved for their persistence in bringing this matter before the courts and achieving this outcome for the community."