A ROW which erupted over a 10p carrier bag resulted in a teenager smashing a display of miniature Christmas trees in a Chard supermarket and then assaulting a police officer who went to arrest her later that day.

Sydney Antoniou became abusive to a female member of staff working at Tesco when she challenged her about not paying for a plastic bag for life.

The defendant became irate and threatened to “smash her face in”, called her a “c***” before attacking a display of miniature Christmas tree in china pots and smashing them across the floor.

When police were called to an address later that night they tried to arrest Antoniou during which she grabbed the female officer by her hair while she punched her repeatedly to the face.

The 19-year-old defendant, of Newton Road, Yeovil, pleaded guilty to assaulting an emergency worker, namely a police constable, acting in the exercise of her functions as such a worker at Chard on December 18 last year.

She also admitted damaging seven miniature Christmas trees valued at £49 belonging to Tesco when she appeared before Somerset Magistrates at Yeovil.

Emma Lenanton, prosecuting, said that a member of staff at Tesco in Chard was working on the self-service checkouts at 2.20pm when she saw Antoniou approach the tills, pay for some shopping and pick up a 10 bag for life without paying for it.

“She approached the defendant and said she had to pay for the bag but she then became abusive, started shouting names at her and said she was going to smash her face in,” she said.

“Antoniou headed towards the exit where there was a display of miniature Christmas trees in china pots worth £7 each.

“She picked up seven of them and threw them, smashing the pots and damaging the trees.”

Later that day at 10.50pm police were called to an address in Chard for an unrelated matter and found the defendant so told her she was going to be arrested.

“She became agitated, demanded to go upstairs and the used her left arm to punch the police constable to her head three or four times while holding her hair with the other hand,” said Miss Lenanton.

As a result of the assault the officer had a sore lip but fortunately no more serious injury. The court was also told that Antoniou was subject to a community order when the offence was committed.

Defending solicitor Jeffrey Bannister said his client had suffered with mental health problems for some time and had been on a waiting list for 12 months to receive counselling.

“She is also on a community order already but this needs to be looked at more closely to see what the probation service can offer her,” he said.

“She says she needs to work on her emotional resilience and has been trying to speak with her psychiatric social worker but has got no response, but there is an awful lot of work to be done.”

The magistrates revoked the defendant’s existing community order and re-sentenced her to a new 18 month order with 30 Rehabilitation Activity Days to help with her emotional resilience and to assist with anger management.

They also ordered her to pay £49 compensation to Tesco and £50 to the police officer who she assaulted but no costs or victim surcharge were imposed.