Rhianna Tutton pleads guilty after spitting on police officer, paramedic

“They shouldn’t be treated this way”: An Adelaide woman who spat on a police officer and then did the same to a paramedic, has fronted court.

An ambulance worker and police officer were both spat upon during an incident at Port Adelaide this month.

An Adelaide woman has pleaded guilty to assaulting a police officer and ambulance worker after spitting on them earlier this month.

Rhianna Eilish Tutton, 27, appeared via video link in the Port Adelaide Magistrates Court today.

The court heard the charges related to an incident that occurred at Gardiner Court in Port Adelaide at 6.30pm on October 14.

The prosecutor said police were called to the address after being alerted to a female acting belligerently.

“Paramedics were trying to assess her – she was observed to be belligerent and abusive towards them,” she said.

Charges of spitting at a police officer and ambulance worker were heard in the Port Adelaide Magistrates Court today. Picture: Kaysee Miller

“She was going to be detained under the public intoxication act.

“She began to walk away from them and swear, so officers have detained her.

“She started to co-operate and went on the stretcher.

“Then when an officer went to start searching her bag, she spat towards the police officer, and that has landed on his arm.

“The attending paramedic is the second victim, in the same situation.

“She (Tutton) started to co-operate but then she spat again and that landed on their (the paramedic’s) arm.”

Tutton, who had been in custody since October 15, pleaded guilty to the charges.

She told the court she had been diagnosed as having borderline personality disorder and that alcohol had been an issue for her.

Magistrate Paul Foley said police and ambulance officers often work under difficult circumstances but shouldn’t need to deal with being spat upon.

“They shouldn’t be treated this way,” he said.

Magistrate Foley recorded a conviction and handed down a 12 month good behaviour bond.