A WOMAN described by her lawyer as 'psychotic' avoided a jail term in Mandurah Magistrates Court on Friday despite pleading guilty to numerous assaults, including attacking hospital staff and punching a police officer in the face.
Christine Karen Lee Hayward was released from custody and ordered to undergo a 12-month supervised treatment program after Magistrate Vivien Edwards told the court imprisonment was "not warranted".
Ms Hayward, who the court heard had substance abuse issues, was taken to Peel Health Campus by two police officers who found her walking on the road with a cannula still stuck in her arm.
When back at the hospital, police attempted to take Ms Hayward's cigarettes from her when she punched one of the officer's in the face.
The officer received swelling and cuts to her face from the assault and Ms Hayward had to be physically restrained.
While at an earlier Peel Health Campus admission in November last year, Ms Hayward was again forcibly restrained due to her aggressive and psychotic behaviour.
The court heard Ms Hayward had her arms and legs restrained but continued to spit at hospital staff who were working nearby.
Ms Hayward used her teeth to break through one of the restraints and as staff attempted to hold her down, spat on the face of one of the hospital staff members.
As other staff members attempted to calm her down, Ms Hayward continued to spit at staff, with some of the spit landing in the mouth of a treating physician.
Ms Hayward also admitted to punching a taxi driver after a dispute over the payment of her fare.
On that occasion, Ms Hayward reached through the driver's window and punched the female driver multiple times, breaking her glasses and causing swelling and bruising to the woman's face.
The driver was able to flee the scene and call police.
The court heard Ms Haywood was also responsible for a brawl in Mandurah Forum where she said she went "looking for a fight".
Ms Haywood made remarks to a passing family in the January 2014 scuffle and as a fight broke out, threw nearby glass items from a store at the 41-year-old victim and pulled the victim to the ground by her hair before security and police could arrive.
The fight was captured on CCTV.
Counsel for Ms Haywood argued his client's memory was "not the best" in relation to all offences and said her tough upbringing had contributed to her actions.
The court heard Ms Haywood needed stability given her father was already in prison and that the accused spent her 20th birthday behind bars.
Magistrate Edwards took into account the time Ms Haywood had already spent in custody when she placed her on a supervised order.
Ms Haywood was ordered to forfeit $2500 to the State for her multiple breaches of bail and ordered to pay costs of more than $900.
