A POLICE leader blasted a mother-of-three who avoided jail despite racking up her 11th conviction for attacking an on-duty officer.

Jobless Dawn Walker, 34, headbutted a police officer called to deal with a disturbance in Manchester Road, Burnley, after unleashing a torrent of abuse at the constable.

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But when Walker, from Bacup, appeared before Burnley magistrates, she walked away with a suspended prison sentence, her second of the year for the same offence for police assault.

The chairman of Lancashire Police Federation, who represents the county’s rank and file officers, has condemned the decision, which has occurred just weeks after she confessed to biting a police officer’s face.

Magistrates imposed an eight-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months on Walker, of Rosendale (corr) Crescent, after she pleaded guilty to being drunk and disorderly and assaulting Pc Thomas Cock.

She is reported to have claimed that she wanted to be a ‘role model’ for her three children.

Speaking after the case Rachel Baines, the area’s police federation chairman, said: “I cannot comprehend how this violent individual has once again been allowed to walk free.

“The police officers assaulted also have a right to be protected from violent criminals, and no amount of mitigation should allow her to walk free, once again.

“This is her 11th conviction for assaulting police officers, the fourth this year. We are not here as her personal punch bag. This sentence is wholly inadequate.

“I note the chair of the bench promised a custodial sentence next time this happens. I will watch with baited breath and hope that the next police officer she assaults is not seriously injured by her.

“Assaults on officers should be taken much more seriously because as this incident shows there is absolutely no deterrent. Walker’s behaviour has been described to me by the officers concerned as some of the worst they have ever dealt with.

“Her language and level of violence was certainly nothing any person would describe as ‘role model’ behaviour - quite the opposite. There are no excuses in my opinion that could justify or even mitigate such attacks.”

A Lancashire Police spokesman said that officers were called to deal with reports of a disturbance outside premises in Manchester Road, Burnley, on the evening of July 22.

Two men were being abusive towards officers, as well as Walker, who headbutted one of the officers, Pc Cock, as he went to arrest her for being drunk and disorderly.