A WOMAN who pulled out a chunk of a police officer's beard in a violent outburst has been spared prison time, despite being on a suspended sentence.

Chelsea Clarke, 19, of no fixed abode, was at a night hostel when staff called for an ambulance because she was very drunk and injured, Gary Venturi, prosecuting, told Isle of Wight Crown Court this morning (Tuesday).

Supporting police officers were called out because she was resistant to being taken to hospital. She was abusive and during a struggle with one of the officers, pulled out a large clump of his beard hair.

On arrival at hospital, she was treated in a room where a child was present and continued to berate staff with abusive language, Mr Venturi said.

A few days later, she was caught shoplifting at Marks and Spencer in Newport, the court heard.

Clarke pleaded guilty to assaulting an emergency worker, abusive behaviour, theft, failing to surrender to bail by not turning up to a previous court hearing, and breaching her suspended sentence.

She was given her suspended sentence in October last year for attacking a man with a pool cue.

Representing Clarke, Oscar Vincent said although she was 19 years old, Clarke presented intellectually and emotionally as much younger and had suffered significant trauma during her childhood.

She had spent time in care being moved around the country and in March last year, she was moved to the Isle of Wight.

Mr Vincent said that when she attacked the man with a pool cue, he had made unwanted advances towards her and she overreacted.

When police and ambulance were called to the hostel she was staying in, during the more recent incident, she had been assaulted by another resident at the shelter and was suffering PTSD symptoms and was in a very distressed state when emergency workers arrived, Mr Vincent said.

Sentencing this morning, Recorder Alastair Malcolm decided not to activate the suspended sentence, but warned Clarke that this would be her last chance.

He sentenced her to a community order of 12 months with 10 days' rehabilitation activities. For the breach of the suspended sentence, he gave her an electronically monitored night-time curfew for six months, which she will have to undertake at her partner's address.