A WOMAN who assaulted a mental health unit worker has been sentenced by a court.

Abigal Stewart admitted assaulting an emergency worker when she appeared before South Cumbria Magistrates' Court.

The court heard Stewart, 26, was receiving care at the Dane Garth mental health facility at Furness General Hospital when she assaulted a medical practitioner on January 5.

Prosecutor Lee Dacre said Stewart had left the unit multiple times and gone out to buy vodka and a lighter.

Staff were concerned by Stewart's history of swallowing objects and wanted to confiscate the lighter from her, the court heard.

When they tried to retrieve it from her, she struggled with staff and assaulted a worker, causing her to sustain a bust lip, the court was told.

Stewart was later taken to Barrow Police Station, where she ripped apart a police safety suit worth £78.

The court was told she had 41 previous offences, including previous assaults on emergency workers.

In mitigation, Trystan Roberts said Stewart did not mean to assault the practitioner and apologised straight away following the incident.

"She was full of contrition and remorse," he said. 

For the offences, Stewart, of Barrow's Keith Street, was sentenced to a curfew, keeping at her home between 7pm and 7am for 12 weeks.

She was also told to pay £100 to the victim of the assault.