Senior Constable Anthea Beck speaks about the attack that left her ‘scalped’ by anti-vaxxer Raina Jane Cruise

A pregnant constable who was kicked, punched and had chunks of hair torn out by a would-be political candidate has recounted the harrowing attack.

Senior Constable Anthea Beck, the SA Police officer who was scalped while pregnant by an anti-vaccine protester in 2021, has spoken about the violent attack after the attacker was finally jailed.

The attacker and would-be political candidate Raina Jane Cruise, was last week jailed for three years, nine months and two weeks after the Court of Appeal overturned her controversial suspended sentence.

Ms Beck told 9News of her “relief and satisfaction” at the court’s decision.

“Relief that it sends a message to the community that if you assault an emergency worker you can expect a custodial sentence,” she said.

Senior constable Anthea Beck spoke to 9News about the attack by anti-vaxxer Raina Jane Cruise. Picture: 9News

Ms Beck, who was pregnant at the time of the attack, had a chunk of hair ripped from her scalp. Picture: District Court registry

Cruise was found guilty at trial of intentionally causing harm to Ms Beck in 2021. Picture: District Court registry

Ms Beck also told 9News of her fear for her unborn baby during the attack on Rundle St and her disappointment when Cruise, 39, was handed only a suspended sentence.

“It was the first thing I thought – have I done damage to my unborn child?” she said.

“Is the stress, has the attack, something impacted on her?”

Cruise was found guilty at trial of intentionally causing harm to Ms Beck in 2021.

That trial found she had kicked and punched the constable, who was pregnant at the time, and torn chunks of hair from her head.

“She just reached out, knocked my hat off my head, grabbed a handful of hair and just dropped to the ground,” Ms Beck told 9News.

“Immediate hostility. There was no lead-up; there was no warning.

“I was aware that I was in pain, but I wasn’t actively feeling it because it was just all so fast.

“The suspended sentence was not in line with societal expectations of what happens when you assault police.”

The court last week resentenced Cruise to three years and three months’ jail for the attack.

It further sentenced her to nine months and two weeks’ jail for her two earlier assaults on hotel security staff in the minutes prior to the assault upon Ms Beck.

The three-year sentence had previously been suspended on condition of a three-year, $1000 bond and 100 hours of community service.

Originally published as Senior Constable Anthea Beck speaks about the attack that left her ‘scalped’ by anti-vaxxer Raina Jane Cruise