POLICE have defended their decision to prosecute a woman for pinching a police officer’s backside.

The incident happened when two male police officers attended the home of Martine Carter on October 2 last year following reports of a concern for welfare.

Carter, aged 45, of Chaldecott Gardens in Bournemouth, had taken 120 tablets in an overdose attempt.

At Poole Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday Jason Spellman, prosecuting, said that the police officer was searching Carter’s home for the empty pill packets when the assault happened.

“While one of the officers was searching in the bathroom upstairs the defendant came up behind him and touched his backside and squeezed tightly,” he added.

“It is believed to only have lasted about a second.”

Carter was originally charged with sexual assault, which was later changed to assaulting a PC.

As a result the officer involved in the incident cannot be named for legal reasons as he reported being the victim of a sexual assault and therefore has lifelong anonymity.

Mr Bevan, defending, said Carter had “no recollection of what had happened”.

He added: “Of course an assault on a police officer has to be taken seriously but this incident may be at the lower end.”

Carter was given a conditional discharge for nine months and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £20 victim surcharge.

Speaking about the case Chief Inspector Mike Claxton, of Bournemouth police, said: “It is inappropriate and unacceptable for someone to pinch anyone’s bottom without consent, regardless of the role they are performing at work.

“The officer who attended this incident should not be treated any differently to anyone else and unfortunately, due to Martine Carter’s actions, they were left with no option but to report the assault.

“To have not done so, could have left the officer vulnerable to an allegation being made against them.

“The case was sent to the Crown Prosecution Service for a charging decision and the CPS concluded that Martine Carter was to be charged with the offence.”