A teenage girl who assaulted a female Police officer was handed two years' probation in Magistrates' Court on Thursday.

Tanya Taylor, 17, of Dock Hill Road, held Sergeant Devon Richardson in a headlock until she couldn't breathe, and pulled her hair.

The teenager was eventually restrained with incapacitant spray.

Sgt. Richardson was left with several abrasions and cuts to her hands following the incident, which took place on Queen Street on July 15.

Taylor, who was at Kentucky Fried Chicken around 9.15 p.m. that night, attacked the officer in an attempt to help a male friend escape Police custody.

The court heard from Taylor's lawyer, Larry Scott: "This is a 17-year-old from a strong family background who has behaved wholly out of character."

He recommended that Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner give her a conditional discharge, on the basis that it was "highly unlikely" she would offend again.

However Mr. Warner told the court this kind of violent behaviour has been occurring far too often against Police trying to do their job.

"In my view a conditional discharge is out of the question," he said.

He placed Taylor on probation and ordered her to stay away from alcohol and other controlled drugs and submit to random drug testing. He also ordered that she abide by a curfew between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. and stay away from known bad persons and environments.

Taylor apologised to her parents and the court: "I know that I was wrong for my actions. It was a disgusting act and it will never happen again."