A TEENAGE girl who assaulted two male police officers after stealing a mobile phone and cash from a handbag has been spared custody.The 17-year-old, who cannot be named because of her age, pleaded guilty to all three offences after an incident on New Year's Eve.

A TEENAGE girl who assaulted two male police officers after stealing a mobile phone and cash from a handbag has been spared custody.

The 17-year-old, who cannot be named because of her age, pleaded guilty to all three offences after an incident on New Year's Eve.

She was given a 12-month supervision order, and will spend the first 90 days on the Youth Inclusion Support Project, (ISP) a scheme aimed at giving young repeat offenders support to change their lives.

Chairman of the Bench Ray Condon said: “You do not have a good record of complying with court orders but we are going to give you another chance.

“We are going to put you on the ISP. It will be very hard. But we want to make clear that if you come back to court the bench will have to deal with you very seriously.”

The girl was also ordered to pay �30 compensation to each of the policemen, and �25 legal costs.

The incidents happened on New Year's Eve, when police were called to a party in Ranelagh Road, Ipswich, after another girl noticed money and a digital camera had been taken from her purse.

The defendant, who had been drinking, was arrested at the scene but she complained her handcuffs were too tight, and then kneed one officer in the groin as he tried to loosen them.

As the other officer restrained her, she spat at him and dragged her fingernails across the back of his hands, drawing blood.

The incidents occurred while she was on license for another offence, and she served two weeks in a Young Offender's Institution before the start of court proceedings, when she was released on bail.

The defendant, who has pledged to stop drinking alcohol, told magistrates: “I have done being like a criminal, and I want to grow up and be mature now.

“I want to change my life and I am going to try my hardest, just give me a chance.”