A 16-year-old girl who attacked a police officer inside a court building has been told she could face a custodial sentence.
The teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, launched the assault on PC Gwen Louden in the foyer of Dundee Sheriff Court on Thursday.
The girl had been thrown out of the building’s court room number one as a result of her behaviour while other cases were being heard.
She was then asked to leave the building entirely but confronted PC Loudon and another officer.
The teen threw a punch at PC Loudon before the girl and the two officers burst back in through the glass doors at the front of the building.
The girl then landed a vicious headbutt on the 54-year-old officer as the pair attempted to handcuff her and then landed punches on PC Loudon as they attempted to restrain her.
It is understood the officer had to go to Ninewells Hospital in Dundee to have facial injuries X-rayed.
A court source said: “It was a shocking, violent attack that was completely unprovoked.”
The 16-year-old, of Dundee, appearing in the same court she was thrown out of just 24 hours earlier, pleaded guilty to a charge of assault to injury on summary complaint.
David Duncan, defending, said: “The only question here is her status between now and sentencing.”
Sheriff Alistair Carmichael deferred sentence upon the teen until next month for social work background reports and an update on her progress on an existing community payback order.
She was released on bail until her next court appearance.