AN 81-YEAR-OLD woman pulled out a knife in the presence of a police officer who had tried to breathalyse her, a court heard on Monday.

Beryl Elizabeth Billington denied failing to stop her car when required by police and assaulting a constable in the execution of her duty.

Haverfordwest magistrates court heard that, in this case, physical contact had not been made but the definition of assault also included causing an individual to fear immediate unlawful violence.

Billington had previously pleaded guilty to driving a vehicle while her licence was revoked.

On November 23 last year she was followed in her car by PC Martin, who knew that Billington no longer had a licence. She followed immediately behind her down St Davids Road, with her blue lights and sirens on before pulling in as she was not pursuit trained.

When she saw Billington stopping at her address on St Davids Road she drove to the property.

At the property PC Martin attempted to breathalyse Billington but, despite several attempts, the pensioner was unable to provide a sample.

PC Martin told Billington that she was under arrest and would have to come to the station to provide a sample.

“She became obstructive,” said PC Martin.

“She said she was going to end her life. She went into the kitchen and grabbed a knife. I told her to drop the knife

“I was behind her and she turned towards me. I pushed her. I didn’t know what she was going to do. I was really frightened. She fell slightly then turned round. I felt threatened and that she was going to come at me with the knife.”

On body cam footage shown to the court PC Martin could be heard shouting “put the knife down” while Billington shouted “leave me alone”.

Sian Vaughan, prosecuting, told the court that Billington had previously been convicted of assaulting a police officer and making 999 nuisance calls in 2014.

In her evidence Billington insisted that she had not seen the police car, the blue lights or the sirens and had been followed down the road by a non-police van.

She said that she had taken a fruit knife and cut up some fruit. She said she had her back to the officer who was some distance away, and that the knife blade was two inches long.

She said she did not threaten the officer with the knife or brandish it in any way.

She maintained that she did not know her licence had been revoked until December 11.

Magistrates found Billington guilty of both offences, saying:

“We found the evidence of the police officer very credible. It was backed up by CCTV evidence. Your evidence conflicted with the statement you made in interview. In the witness box you spoke against what you said in your written statement.”

Billington was fined £345 for each of the three offences, ordered to pay £650 in court costs, £200 in compensation to PC Martin and a £34 surcharge, totalling £1919.