A WOMAN stripped in front of police and threw her tracksuit trousers at an officer was called an 'idiot' by a judge who then awarded the officer compensation for 'shock'.

Convicted robber Paula Simmons, aged 39, of Wylds Lane, Worcester, admitted assaulting a police officer in the execution of his duty when she appeared at Worcester Magistrates Court on Monday.

Simmons was arrested on suspicion of another offence on June 11 and became 'verbally aggressive and abusive' towards police officers during the incident at Worcester Police Station said Jackie Rogers, prosecuting.

"She was shouting and arguing with the female officer supervising her. The officer told her that her clothing had been seized and she began to strip in front of everyone. She said 'have them'." In a statement PC Barker said: "I was hit in the right side of my head by her tracksuit trousers." Simmonds was then further arrested for assaulting the officer.

Simmons was jailed for robbery and released in 2012 has convictions for assault in 2007 and being drunk and disorderly in 2007.

Susie Duncan, defending, said Simmons was not involved in the offence for which she was originally arrested. Mrs Duncan said: "She became agitated. She was telling the police she had done nothing whatsoever. She was just walking down the street. She was told her clothing was going to be seized and she became extremely agitated at that point. In frustration it would appear she vented her anger by removing her tracksuit bottoms and throwing them towards the officer at the custody desk and they hit him on the side of the head. No injury was caused."

The section five public order offence for which Simmons was originally arrested had been discontinued by the Crown Prosecution Service Mrs Duncan said. She had been living on the street for 13 years but had been found accommodation by PC Alex Denny for which Mrs Duncan said Simmons was 'incredibly grateful'. Simmons also suffers from depression.

Deputy district judge DT Noble said: "You're an idiot." She replied: "Am I?"

He added: "The officer must have been shocked by what happened."

He gave her an 18 month conditional discharge and ordered her to pat £200 costs because she had initially pleading not guilty before changing her plea. She was also ordered to pay a £15 victim surcharge. He also awarded £25 compensation to the officer 'for his shock'.