Grandmother of seven Kristy Barnes sentenced for spitting at ambo’s and cop

A grandmother has been jailed for spitting on emergency services officers during an erratic drunken outburst.

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A GRANDMOTHER has been jailed for spitting on emergency services officers during an erratic drunken outburst.

Family members called paramedics to subdue Kristy Lisa Faith Barnes, 42, during the incident in December 2019.

Crown prosecutor Tom Hancock played for the District Court a short clip caught on body camera footage of Barnes being placed on a stretcher while groaning and growling.

As her family attempted to calm Barnes down while the paramedics secured her, Barnes spat in the face of an ­ambulance worker.

The court heard as Barnes was being transported to hospital she spat in her hand and threw it at another ambulance worker, hitting his hip.

After Barnes was discharged from hospital the next morning, she was transferred to the Townsville watch house.

While being processed there, she yelled ­“f--king dogs” before spitting at a police officer, hitting him on the chest.

Barnes pleaded guilty to three counts of serious assault.

The court heard Barnes was on a suspended sentence for assault at the time of the offending.

Defence barrister Kelly Stone said Barnes was a grandmother of seven and had helped to drink a bottle of vodka, a bottle of rum and a cask of wine during the night.

“There was no logical thought process about what was happening,” he said.

“She has no recollection of that offending at all but she has now seen the footage and she describes seeing that as being distressing.

“She is horrified at herself.”

Judge John Coker told Barnes her offences would have been “disturbing” and “distressing” for the officers.

“You were terribly under the influence of alcohol and while that might provide some explanation as to your behaviours, it provides absolutely no excuse,” Judge Coker said.

“It was you and no one else who consumed the alcohol and it was you and no one else who’s responsible for the consequences that flow.”

After declaring the one day spent in pre-sentence custody as time already served, Judge Coker sentenced Barnes to 15 months jail.

A parole release date was set at June 28 this year.

Originally published as Grandmother of seven Kristy Barnes sentenced for spitting at ambo’s and cop