A woman who assaulted a cop and spat on him has been warned she is flushing her chances "down the toilet".

Sharon Purvis appeared from custody at Dumbarton Sheriff Court on February 20 and the sheriff was alarmed she told social workers she would take drugs as soon as she was free.

Sheriff Maxwell Hendry said that while she got "points for honesty", it rang "alarm bells very loudly if she's released".

The 35-year-old, of Ellinger Court, Clydebank, had previously admitted assaulting the officer and spitting on his body on August 24, 2022. She had been on bail at the time.

She had been given a community payback order (CPO) as an alternative to custody but "spurned that change" and "flushed it down the toilet", said the sheriff.

At the hearing last week, defence solicitor Brian McGuire admitted his client was "clearly struggling".

He said: "She came off the drink about seven or eight months ago, and got involved in crack cocaine."

The sheriff replied, citing a social work report: "It states clearly what she's going to do if she's released about access to drugs.

"I'm not allowed to impose a 24-hour restriction of liberty order. If I were, I might.

"You have been in custody for a month and you're the person responsible for that.

"The question is whether you're going to take anything away from that as a learning experience.

"You have to want to make changes. You are standing right at the edge of the precipice."

Sheriff Hendry added: "If the courts try everything else, prison is the last remaining option."

But he revoked the existing CPO and imposed a new one with supervision by social workers for two years.

She must take drug, alcohol and/or mental health counselling and treatment as directed.

In the next 12 months, she must do 200 hours of unpaid work in the community.

And she will be under a curfew from 5pm to 5am every day for four months.

The sheriff said: "I will be watching you. If you breach this order, you have been given every chance the court has offered you and you know what's likely to happen next."