Woman with Hep C spits at police

A WOMAN fronted Rockhampton District Court yesterday after she spat in the mouth of a police officer while knowing she was positive for Hepatitis C.

The now 27-year-old woman pleaded guilty to more than 10 charges, including serious assault of a police officer after the June 4, 2015 incident.

The court heard Tamara Louise Brown left her Wandal home in a motor vehicle before being intercepted by police on High St pushing the car across an intersection.

The road side breath test revealed Brown had a blood alcohol reading of 0.178 - and never held a licence.

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Brown was taken into custody where she resisted arrest, she threw her phone on the floor and in the transfer, spat into the eyes and mouth of a police officer.

In her holding cell, Brown further spat on windows, requiring the cell to be professionally cleaned.

Brown was incarcerated for 106 days.

Crown prosecutor Alexandra Brown read a statement to the courtroom from the victim, who was still awaiting Hepatitis C test results.

The virus is a blood-borne virus that causes inflammation of the liver, for which there is no vaccine.

"The victim (police officer) had a very young baby which restricted his access to her and put stress on his young family," she read.

"There was a large amount of uncertainty over this and it made him really anxious.

"All his tests have been negative but there is one test remaining."

Defence barrister Ross LoMonaco expressed that Brown's conduct was "extreme" and that alcohol abuse was not an excuse.

"It's her abuse of alcohol which gets her into trouble. And in no way does she dispute the facts," Mr LoMonaco said.

"She has had a fair degree of disfunctionality in her upbringing. She has no family and very few friends in Rockhampton and has moved around constantly. It's not an excuse though."

With a previous record of assaulting an officer of a similar nature only two years ago, Ms Baker said "police are doing a job and serving the community".

Judge Michael Burnett took into account Brown's lack of support mechanisms in her life and said she was on a downward spiral.

"I do hope prison is well interred into your mind, plainly you do have an alcohol problem that you need to address," Judge Burnett said.

"Spitting on officers will not be tolerated. Police undertake a selfless task

"You must have been well aware of that fact that you have Hepatitis C which makes it even more troubling. Your actions were very selfish."

Brown was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment with immediate parole, 200 hours of community service and was disqualified from driving.