A HEADINGTON woman has avoided jail after assaulting a police officer who was arresting her for theft.

Laura Vaulter, of Brome Place in Headington, appeared at Oxford Magistrates’ Court on April 3 charged with two counts of theft, assaulting an emergency worker, and obstructing an officer in their execution of duty.

The 34-year-old was arrested after she stole from two businesses earlier this year.

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On January 26, she was caught stealing £217.92 worth of stuffed animals and clothing from the HMV store in Oxford.

Vaulter, on the same day, then assaulted a police constable by beating him.

Two days later, Vaulter stole sushi and bento boxes of an unknown value from Wasabi Sushi & Bento in Oxford.

On the same day, she wilfully obstructed a police constable in the execution of her duty.

After pleading guilty in January to all four counts, Vaulter was handed a community order by the magistrates a couple of months later.

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She was ordered to complete six months of alcohol treatment with Turning Point, an Oxfordshire charity which helps people with drug and alcohol rehabilitation.

Vaulter was also ordered to complete 15 days of a rehabilitation programme.

There were court costs of £25 and she was ordered to pay £25 in compensation. An order for a victim surcharge was not applied for in this case.