A WOMAN who wasn't happy with the police response to a complaint she made about her neighbour took matters into her own hands.

Blackburn magistrates heard Beverley Anne Smith smashed a window at his house before attacking him in the street.

After she was arrested she threatened to headbutt a police officer.

Smith, 48, of Leyburn Road, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to criminal damage to a window belonging to Damien Berry, assaulting Mr Berry and assaulting an emergency worker by threatening violence. She was sentenced to 12 weeks in prison suspended for 18 months with a six months alcohol treatment requirement. She was ordered to pay £300 compensation to Mr Berry.

Tara Riley, prosecuting, said the defendant and Mr Berry both used to live on Lower Hollin Bank Street. There was an ongoing dispute between the two of them and at one stage Smith made a complaint to the police.

"Nothing came of that and she took it upon herself to go and speak to the aggrieved," said Miss Riley.

"She approached him in the street and punched and kicked him. While she was in custody she became aggressive and threatened to headbutt an officer."

Gareth Price, defending, said since the incident Smith had lost her home and was currently spending some time staying with friends and some time sleeping in a shed.

"She needs to get back to some kind of stability," said Mr Price. "This has been a wake-up call and she realises that something has to change."