A WOMAN who assaulted police officers after suffering a panic attack when she was told she was to be searched has appeared in court.

Ebony Tulloch, 20, of Donald Street, Dunfermline, appeared for sentencing at Dunfermline Sheriff Court on Wednesday.

She had previously admitted that on February 13, at Dunfermline police station, she assaulted one police officer in execution of her duty by punching her on the head and assaulted a police custody support officer by kicking her on the body.

She also assaulted another officer by kicking her on the body and admitted a further charge of failing to appear at court on March 28.

Depute fiscal Jamie Roy said the police officers were in the process of searching Tulloch when she became aggressive and carried out the assaults.

When charged, she said she had suffered a panic attack.

Solicitor Alexander Flett said his client had various issues and a "fairly troubled" background.

"On the night in question, she had a panic attack and overreacted to the situation which was taking place," he said. "She is apologetic for what took place.

"The decision to carry out a personal search is a matter that has been addressed elsewhere. The panic attack was a result of being told that was what was going to happen."

Sheriff Charles Macnair placed Tulloch on a restriction of liberty order for 243 days for the assault and fined her £250 for failing to appear at court.

"The police were carrying out their duties – they were obliged to do what they were doing and you assaulted two police officers and one custody police support officer," he said.

"Assaults on police officers will not be tolerated by the court and you have now an unenviable record of offending including violence and disorder. You are coming very close to serving custodial sentences if you offend but I am just prepared to deal with this by way of a non-custodial sentence."