Captor spray used on abusive woman

The drama played out in St Michael’s Road, Newbury, on December 12, in front of terrified passers-by, Newbury magistrates heard last Thursday.
Despite repeated requests to calm down, 34-year-old Michelle Anne Hoyle, of Kyftle Court, St Michael’s Road, Newbury, continued to stand in the road and rant at officers, the court was told.
Claire French, prosecuting, said: “Police attended an address where a male was threatening to harm himself.
“The defendant was not helping the situation and was being abusive to officers. Officers tried to move her from the road; members of the public were nearby, and a young child in particular, seemed distressed. Officers had to deploy Captor spray, but she just kept on screaming and waving her arms at them. Officers thought she must be intoxicated or on drugs.”
Miss Hoyle admitted using threatening words or behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress.
In October 2012, she was sentenced to two years in jail for conspiring to supply class A drugs.
Mike Davis, defending, said: “She was out on licence when this offence was committed. Her friend was exhibiting signs of mental illness and, indeed, was sectioned under the Mental Health Act later that day.
“She was angry because she believed police had promised not to arrest him and then had put him in handcuffs. She was trying, as she saw it, to do the right thing. She was not on drugs but had been drinking.”
Mr Davis called a probation officer to give evidence on his client’s behalf.
Magistrates heard that Miss Hoyle would not be recalled to serve her sentence in prison despite the latest conviction, but instead would be given a first warning because she had attended all appointments as requested. The court imposed a nine-month conditional discharge and ordered Miss Hoyle to pay a £15 surcharge.