Police officer suffered life-changing spinal injury when mother threw child at her in angry rage, court hears
A police officer suffered a life-changing spinal injury after a mother threw her own child at the officer in an angry rage, a court heard.
Kirsty Bearfield, 24, was told that social workers decided her children should spend the night with the father, and asked police for assistance.
The mother-of-two was at Hull Royal Infirmary, East Yorkshire, because her older child needed treatment.
When the female detective constable explained the decision Bearfield, who was sat on a sofa in a waiting area with the baby on her knee "threw the baby with a look of anger on her face", Hull Crown Court heard.
The officer "put her arms up and caught the baby who had been flung towards her," prosecutor Phillip Evans said.
She put her head back so the back of the baby's head would not hit her face, and managed to catch the 30lb infant without him being injured.
However, the officer was in "immediate discomfort", and a scan revealed a trapped nerve in her lower spine, which required surgery.
She still does not have full use of her left shoulder and has been left with a six-inch scar. She has had to give up her hobbies of climbing, swimming, and walking, and have her hair cut short as she can no longer hold a hairdryer and cannot dress herself.
Restrictions have also been put in place on what duties she can perform at work, and what roles she can apply for.
The officer said her daughter had just started primary school at the time of the incident, and she had been unable to hug her when she felt anxious.
She added: "I have nightmares about her chucking her son and what could have happened.
"She needs to be made to realise you can't behave like that. She robbed me of being able to be a mum to my child and that I can never forgive."
Bearfield, who has four previous convictions for battery, admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm in November 2017.
Steven Garth, mitigating, said the baby was "airborne for only a split second".
Judge Paul Watson said: "I was, as anybody would be, personally moved to hear of the profound effects this injury caused. They were caused by you."
Although the offence crossed the custody threshold, he said: "I have decided it would not be right or conscionable for something you did two years ago to immediately deprive you of your liberty."
Bearfield was sentenced to 12 months in jail, suspended for 18 months, and must have up to 25 days rehabilitation.
