Erin Briley Snowden was ’high’ when she tried to do a runner from Toowoomba court

A 21-year-old woman was "off her face" on drugs when she bit a police officer and drew blood, subjecting them to a disease test.

Erin Briley Snowden tried to run from the Toowoomba District Court dock but was tackled by two police officers.

A 21-year-old woman was “off her face” on heroin when she jumped the dock of a Toowoomba court and then bit a police woman trying to apprehend her.

Erin Briley Snowden had been arrested on a warrant and brought before the Toowoomba District Court on November 23, 2021, the same court heard on Wednesday.

Given a cup of water on her request, she threw the water over one police officer before yelling “get f****ed”, climbing onto the seat in the dock and launching herself over the low glass wall of the dock, the court was told.

When the two officers guarding her went to stop Snowden, she kicked out at them, then, when a policewoman tried to put handcuffs on her, turned her head and bit the senior constable on the upper right arm, Crown prosecutor Erin Kelly told the court.

After Snowden was eventually returned to the watch house, the senior constable noticed her arm was bleeding from the bite, Ms Kelly said.

That officer, a mother of four, was treated for the wound and had to have a disease test, Ms Kelly said.

The 51-year-old policeman involved had at the time been on return to work duties after being diagnosed with PTSD arising from a previous assault, the court heard.

Snowden, who was on parole at the time and had been held in custody since the incident, appeared by video link from the prison to plead guilty to attempting to escape lawful custody, serious assault of police, and serious assault of police causing bodily harm.

The 21-year-old jumped the dock of the Toowoomba District Court and tried to flee.

Ms Kelly said Snowden had a history of similar offending in spitting at or biting police officers and mental health staff and other assaults.

Defence barrister Jack Kennedy told the court Snowden had endured a “very rough start to life”, growing up with a schizophrenic and alcoholic mother which had led to her leaving home at just 11 years of age and to living on the street among the drug-using community.

His client started drinking alcohol at 11 and using drugs at 12, he said.

His client had a three-year-old daughter who was living with family, he said.

On this day she was affected by heroin to the point she had no recollection of the event, Mr Kennedy said.

However, since being in custody, Snowden had time for “sobering reflection” and was remorseful for her behaviour, he said.

“When she’s not using drugs she’s a different person,” Mr Kennedy said.

Asked by Judge Dearden if she had anything to say, Snowden replied: “I just wanted to say I’m fully remorseful for my crimes” and apologised to the officers.

“I want to get my daughter back in my life, I want to get a (driver’s) licence and I want to get off drugs,” she said.

Judge Dearden said he would give Snowden “significant credit” for her early pleas of guilty and for the positive steps she had taken since.

He sentenced Snowden to 18 months in jail but, declaring the 120 days she had spent in custody as time served, ordered she be eligible to apply for release on parole immediately.

Originally published as Erin Briley Snowden was ’high’ when she tried to do a runner from Toowoomba court