Mum in her pyjamas broke police officer's nose in headbutt attack in the early hours

A pyjama-wearing mum left an armed policewoman disfigured by breaking her nose with a headbutt during a 999 alert.
Mum-of-two Stacey Henderson will be sentenced at Newcastle Crown Court next monthMum-of-two Stacey Henderson will be sentenced at Newcastle Crown Court next month
Mum-of-two Stacey Henderson will be sentenced at Newcastle Crown Court next month

Stacey Henderson, 23, lashed out at the officer when ordered from her home in School Road, East Rainton.

Henderson complained she was being unfairly manhandled – and then smashed the officer in the face in the early hours of Monday, October 24, a court heard.

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The PC suffered a displaced fracture but refused to have her nose reset by medics after being told it may cause other complications.

In a victim statement, she said her disfigurement was a “daily reminder” of the assault and could not be hidden by make-up.

Mum-of-two Henderson will be sentenced at Newcastle Crown Court next month after magistrates ruled their powers were insufficient for the crime.

Prosecutor Paul Anderson said: “The police went to arrest this lady in relation to a separate matter that didn’t go anywhere and no action was taken.

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“She came out of the house and was seized by a number of officers.

“She reacted by headbutting one officer, causing a fracture to the nose.

“After she was arrested she said words to the effect of, ‘Why aye, cos you battered us around the head’. In interview, she claimed she’d done nothing wrong.

“The officer suffered a displaced fracture of the nose, which was confirmed by a doctor. The officer opted out of manipulation of the nose.”

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In a statement read to South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court, the PC said Henderson had looked directly at her immediately prior to the attack.

She added: “The assault was intentional and unjustified. I’ve never suffered pain or injury like this.”

Of her hospital treatment, she said: “I found the examination painful, it reminded me of the assault.

“When I look in the mirror, it’s a daily reminder of the assault and that my nose will not be as it should. It’s a disfiguration I can’t hide with clothing or make-up.”

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The court heard Henderson has no previous convictions but had been given an unrelated caution five years ago.

Greg Flaxen, defending, said: “The police had a report that they were looking for a white male on a section 18 assault.

“The police officers tell her that she will not be arrested and for her just to come out.

“She says, ‘You’re going to arrest me’. She walked down the garden path – they put their hands on her.

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“She accepts that she headbutted the officer once, and unfortunately the officer sustained an injury.

“Ms Henderson had to go to hospital for injuries, she received stitches to an eyebrow.

“She has no previous convictions, she is of good character.

“The officers had two firearms on their person, a machine gun and a handgun. Ms Henderson was in her pyjamas.

“Perhaps there was a deal of provocation in that she was told she wasn’t facing arrest, and then there’s police on top of her.

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“The incident is not brought about by alcohol or drugs, and was not caused by crime offending.”

Henderson, who pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm, was granted unconditional bail to be sentenced at the crown court on Tuesday, July 13.

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