A WOMAN who threatened to put a man’s “family in an acid bath” if he didn’t give her “weed” did not get the mental health support she needed, a court heard.

Julie Michaela Duckett, 49, who appeared in court on Tuesday via video link from prison, also verbally abused and “deliberately” spat at a police officer twice in a separate incident.

However, her defence solicitor told Welshpool Magistrates’ Court that she has bipolar disorder and suffers from psychotic episodes; and criticised the lack of mental health support she has received.

Duckett pleaded guilty to five charges: common assault, common assault on an emergency worker, using threatening, abusive or insaulting words or behaviour with intent, and two breaches of a community protection notice.

The prosecutor, Helen Tench, told the court that on May 29, police attended the Glyndwr Hotel in Machynlleth, where the defendant was living, for a welfare check.

She used “foul and abusive language” towards the officers, Ms Tench said.

She then “deliberately spat” at PC Thomas. Ms Tench said this was shown in bodycam footage.

The court heard that when in the police car, that Duckett “lashed out with her feet” when officers tried to take items from her.

She repeatedly said to the officers “tazer me, go on”, and swore at them to go away, Ms Tench said.

Duckett then spat at the officer again, magistrates heard.

The second incident took place on July 6, also in Machynlleth, and resulted in Duckett ending up in custody in Aberystwyth.

The prosecutor said that the defendant went to the home of Scott Williams. She was banging on the front door and she told Mr Williams: “I’m going to get my mates from Liverpool to rip your head off. “I’ll shoot you and your Mrs if you don’t get me any weed now. I’ll take your son’s life away if you don’t give me any weed.”

Mr Williams said that there was no way he could give her any weed as he had stopped using it, the court heard.

Duckett said: “I’ll put your family in an acid bath if you don’t give me any weed.”

Police officers attended. She was “calm and engaging” to begin with but when she was arrested she became “verbally abusive”.

A victim impact statement from Mr Williams said: “It made me feel scared for my family. I was worried with what might happen.

“I genuinely believed at the time that she could have carried out the threats she made,” he said.

Robert Hanratty, defending for Duckett, said that she has “chronic mental health issues” and “psychotic episodes”, and that she had been psychologically assessed by a doctor.

Mr Hanratty said: “What are the mental health services doing for her?”

He asked what was being done to prevent her from “stumbling into crisis” again. The court heard that she had a diagnosis of bipolar disorder and has psychotic episodes over “which she had no control”. It was also heard that she has severe depression and various very complex issues.

“The community mental health team really need to get their act together,” Mr Hanratty said.

The defence said it was a “bizarre incident” and that Duckett was “only after cannabis because she couldn’t get her medication”, the court heard.

“Julie doesn’t think she was as threatening as described,” he said.

“A custody environment is not the place we should be dealing with people with chronic mental health problems. This is a medical as much as a social issue,” Mr Hanratty said.

A probation report heard that Duckett was sentenced in court in Aberystwyth at the start of the month for similar offences, which included four assaults on an emergency worker.

Chair of the bench Vincent Howells said the incidents were “particularly frightening” for Mr Williams and that the custody threshold was met.

Magistrates sentenced Duckett to four weeks in custody. She is also to pay £100 in compensation to PC Thomas and £50 each to Mr Williams and Ms Bradbury, and £170 in court costs.

Duckett was given a two year criminal behaviour order for her to not use 999 unless she genuinely requires emergency assistance and to not play music or shout or swear so loudly that it can be heard outside her home. Her existing community order will continue and no restraining order was made.

Chair of the magistrates' bench, Vincent Howells, said: “Hopefully the mental health services will find more support for you but we have no power to order such things.”