Woman sentenced after racially abusing custody staff and repeatedly assaulting police officers

A woman who assaulted police officers five times on three different occasions has avoided jail.Lena Shepherd, 25, appeared at Peterborough Magistrates’ Court last Tuesday, where she admitted a total of 12 offences – including one of racially aggravated harassment at Lynn’s Police Investigation Centre on August 24, 2023.It came after Shepherd was in a car which police attempted to pull over in March on December 28, 2022, after it was suspected that the driver was under the influence of alcohol.

The car failed to stop but was found in Staffurths Bridge, having crashed.Shepherd and a man got out of the car by the time officers arrived and both were arrested for failing to stop for police and failing to provide a specimen for analysis. They both denied being the driver and would not complete a roadside breath test.Shepherd was further arrested after she punched and kicked officers while being detained.While under investigation for the offences, Shepherd was arrested on two further occasions in August 2023 and January this year.She was arrested in Waterbeach on August 24 after she was stopped in a car that was suspected to be linked to thefts in East Cambridgeshire. She was further arrested for assaulting officers during her arrest, as well as racially abusing custody staff.On January 1 this year, police were called to a restaurant in Cambridge city centre after Shepherd had reportedly tried to leave without paying and was being abusive to staff. Upon being arrested she was found with ketamine on her and again, assaulted a police officer.Shepherd, of no fixed address, was sentenced to 14 weeks in prison, suspended for 18 months, at Peterborough Magistrates’ Court last week. She was also ordered to pay £150 in compensation to the victim of an assault in Soham on June 18 last year, after a fallout over parking.Shepherd has also been given a 40-day Rehabilitation Activity Requirement (RAR) and disqualified from driving for three years after admitting a total of 12 offences: – Two counts of assaulting an emergency worker by beating in Knights End Road, March, on December 28, 2022 – Failing to provide a specimen for analysis in Knights End Road, March, on December 28, 2022- Assault by beating in High Street, Soham, on June 18, 2023- Racially aggravated harassment at Lynn’s Police Investigation Centre on August 24, 2023- Two counts of assaulting an emergency worker on the A10 at Waterbeach on August 24, 2023- Obstructing an emergency worker on the A10 at Waterbeach on August 24, 2023- Failing to provide a sample for a Class A drugs test on August 24, 2023- Assaulting an emergency worker in Gwydir Street, Cambridge, on January 1, 2024- Racially aggravated harassment in Gwydir Street, Cambridge, on January 1, 2024- Possession of a Class B drug (ketamine) on January 1, 2024PC Chad Hall, who investigated, said: “Shepherd continually tried to stop us from doing our jobs by giving false details and resisting arrest and physically assaulting officers.“When coming to work, we are aware of the dangers that come with the role, but to be continually put at risk of harm by one individual is completely unacceptable.“I hope that everyone who was assaulted by Shepherd, both physically and verbally, is provided some reassurance by this action that we will not tolerate such behaviour and will put offenders before the courts.”