A WOMAN who threw a bottle of Vimto at a police officer, showering him with purple liquid, was trying to get his attention.

Lynsey Ogni, 42, threw the plastic bottle towards an officer who had attended to assist colleagues with an arrest in Whitehaven on September 21, Workington Magistrates’ Court heard.

Graeme Tindall, prosecuting, said the officer had been showered with an unknown substance and liquid had entered his left eye.

Mr Tindall said the liquid was ‘some sort of cordial’ which looked to be the same colour as Vimto. There were no injuries caused.

John Cooper, defending, said: “We know it’s a drink. There’s nothing more sinister. It’s a purple liquid.”

Mr Cooper said the man being arrested ‘appeared to be overdosing on drugs’ and Ogni was shouting at police to take him to hospital.

She was attempting to get the officer’s attention but went about it in the ‘completely wrong way’. The man who was being detained later ended up in intensive care.

The court heard that Ogni had also stolen £67 worth of goods from Wilko in Whitehaven on September 26, which hadn’t been recovered.

Ogni, of Queen Street, Whitehaven, pleaded guilty to assault by beating of an emergency worker and theft from a shop.

The case was adjourned to allow a pre-sentence report to be prepared by the probation service. Ogni will be sentenced on November 13.