Nelson woman dragged from A&E ‘foaming at mouth’

Blackburn magistrates heard Amy Louise Cowburn used racist language towards a security officer at the hospital and struggled violently when police tried to remove her.

Catherine Allan (prosecuting) said that as she was being removed Cowburn was thrashing about and foaming at their mouth and appeared to be under the influence of something.

“The officers were concerned about the patients, including a five year old girl who was in a wheelchair which they had to struggle past.”

Cowburn, of Victoria Street, Nelson, pleaded guilty to racially aggravated threatening behaviour and resisting a police officer. She also pleaded guilty to a joint charge with Karl William Thompson (36), of St Peter’s Street, Blackburn, of handling a stolen police laptop. They were both sentenced to eight weeks prison suspended for 12 months. Cowburn was ordered to pay £150 compensation to Lancashire Constabulary, £50 to the security officer and £180 criminal court charge. Thomposon was ordered to pay £500 compensation to the police and £180 criminal court charge.

Miss Allan said the handling offence related to a laptop that had been taken from a police car left unattended while the officers dealt with a fight outside the Salvation Army Hostel.

David Lawson (defending Cowburn) said she had problems with alcohol. “The probation officer who has prepared a pre-sentence report says he has no doubt that with the correct support she can change and adopt an offence free lifestyle.”