A DRUNK woman who used handcuffs to hit a police officer on the head has been ordered to pay compensation over the incident.

Kelly Gibson, 25, was arrested shortly after police arrived at a domestic disturbance in a house on Albert Street, in Shildon, after overhearing raised voices at 12.30am on June 29.

Prosecuting in Newton Aycliffe Magistrates' Court yesterday, Aimee Dodd, said: "Officers arrived at the defendant's cousin's house, where they were told she was not welcome.

"She was stumbling around the living room and became aggressive when she was forcibly removed from the house."

PCs arrested Gibson when she "tensed up" and continued to shout.

The 25-year-old, of Auckland Wynd, Shildon, was put into the back of a police car, with one officer assisting her in putting on her seatbelt.

Gibson then raised her hands above her head and used her handcuffs to forcibly hit down on the top of the officer's head.

Robin Ford, mitigating, said his client had mental health issues and that in her drunken state that night, she had not comprehended the police were trying to help her.

She pleaded guilty to assault a PC and being drunk and disorderly in a public place.

She was fined £167 and ordered to pay £50 compensation to the injured officer.