A TEENAGER with special needs punched a police officer in the face and threatened to 'kill kids' when she was told by neighbours to 'calm down'.

Katie Powell was directing verbal abuse at her support worker when neighbours became involved and the situation escalated at Fielden Row, Warndon Villages, Worcester.

The 19-year-old, now of Kings Close, Kings Norton, admitted using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour with intent to cause fear of unlawful violence (section four public order) against 'Lance Lee and others'. She further admitted assaulting a police officer in the execution of her duties when she tried to arrest her for the public order offence. Powell appeared alongside one of her support workers at Worcester Magistrates Court following the incident on June 17.

Jackie Rogers, prosecuting, said Powell is supported 24 hours by residential support workers because of learning difficulties.

Mrs Rogers said residents in the close, which has around 12 properties, became aware that Powell was directing 'verbal abuse' at her residential support worker while outside her home.

Mrs Rogers said: "It was at night and their children were in bed. The shouting was becoming loud and abusive." One of the neighbours went over to speak to Miss Powell to calm the situation. The neighbour stood between five and eight metres away to ask Powell to calm down because children were in bed. Mrs Rogers said Powell then threatened to 'smash' the neighbour's face in which was overheard by her husband who then became involved, concerned about threats directed at his wife. Powell said: "I don't care about your child - I will kill him and the rest of them." By now another neighbour, Lance Lee, had become involved. Mrs Rogers said: "She repeated the threat to Mr Lee and said 'I have a big knife in the house and I will use it to kill your kids'."

When police arrived Powell hid behind the sofa and punched a female police officer in the left hand side of the face as she entered the house to arrest her. The officer reported soreness to her left cheek but had no visible injuries.

Mrs Rogers said: "She became violent and tried to kick and bite the police officer." Powell had no previous convictions but has previous cautions for violence, the most recent in February of this year.

Mark Turnbull, defending, said: "We have classic 'fight or flight' and she has tried to run away. She is hiding behind the sofa and police moved the sofa to get to her. It's at that point she hits the officer. She is cornered." He said she had the academic age of a 10-year-old and had learning difficulties, including suspected autism and had to be heavily medicated to come to court.

Magistrates gave her a conditional discharge for six months for the public order offence and would have fined her £150 for the assault PC but she will not have to pay as this was deemed as 'time served' in custody. She was ordered to pay a £20 victim surcharge and a contribution towards costs of £85.