A BEREAVED mother from Rossendale pointed a 12-inch knife at police after an officer had turned up to arrest her then boyfriend, a court was told.

Billie Jean Crowther, 36, had been woken from a deep drug-induced sleep and her then partner William Bridge had been chased through the house, Burnley magistrates heard.

Crowther, of St Annes Crescent, Waterfoot, admitted police assault and affray.

She was given a 12-month community order with supervision, 100 hours community service and must also pay £100 compensation.

Janet Sime, defending, said Crowther had been in hospital overnight before the offences after taking an overdose.

She and her then partner decided to have a drink on the way home despite Crowther being on medication.

The officer looked through the front window and saw the pair cuddled up on the settee. He went in and shook them to wake them up.

The defendant picked up the knife and waved it about. The knife was then put back and she hit the officer.

Miss Sime said Crowther had behaved completely out of character. She did not not recall much about it.

She also lost her two children and her mother last year.