Woman jailed after police officer bitten in New Year's Day attack

Judith Mundle, of Hagley Road, Birmingham, pleaded guilty to common assault of an emergency worker and assault causing actual bodily harm at Wolverhampton Magistrates' Court today.

The 36-year-old admitted biting one officer and pushing another on Bridge Street, Walsall in the early hours of yesterday.

Mundle was sent to prison for 18 weeks and was ordered to pay £250 in compensation.

West Midlands Police chiefs condemned the attack which was one of four on officers in Walsall town centre that night.

Officers who are part of Darlaston's policing team tweeted to say their colleague had to attend A&E after the bite attack.

They posted an image of the bite mark left on the officer's arm.

And said their colleague faces an "anxious wait" to find out if they need a six-month course of treatment.

Colleagues tweeted: "This is wholly unacceptable.

"An officer serving and protecting those that were out enjoying the New Year.

"We chose this career, but we don't choose to be subject to such assaults.

"The person responsible will be dealt with by our investigation team and hopefully the officer will get justice via the courts."

Walsall Police commander, Chief Superintendent Andy Parsons, also voiced his anger over the attack.

He tweeted: "This disgraceful attack was just seconds into the New Year.

"Tackling the causes of violence is absolutely our no.1 priority for 2020."

The officer later stepped in to help a man who was "vulnerable and aggressive" in hospital, according to a colleague from the Central Motorway Police Group.

The CMPG account tweeted saying: "Even when he was there, himself injured, he still stepped in to help a vulnerable aggressive gentleman get the help that he needed too.

"Hope the outcome was ok."

Walsall town centre has been marred by violence in recent years and police worked with nightclubs to install knife arches at venues at Christmas 2018 to improve safety.

It came after arches were used at Walsall Town Hall in the wake of the fatal stabbing of Reagan Asbury.

The teenager was killed after trouble during a boxing event at the venue spilled outside on October 14 last year.

West Midlands Police faced one of their busiest nights of the year and took 2,666 calls between 7pm on New Year's Eve and 7am yesterday morning.