A TEEN with a poor court record has managed to avoid a prison sentence – despite previous warnings she risked jail if she found herself before magistrates again.

Swindon Magistrates’ Court heard 18-year-old Delicia Wheeler, who has more than 25 previous convictions, had not intended to injure a police constable when she threw a plastic drinks bottle at her.

The empty projectile hit the PC Scherene Clarke, put forward this year for a Chief Constable’s Commendation after she single-handedly arrested a knife-wielding teen, on the shoulder.

Police had been called to Tovey Road, Pinehurst, on the evening of May 10 to reports that 18-year-old Wheeler was drunk and acting out.

When PC Clarke suggested she call Wheeler’s mother in a bid to get the girl home, the teen threatened to “kick off”.

Prosecuting, Michelle Hewitt said: “She said in interview she threw the bottle because she didn’t want her mother to be called. She did say she was sorry for the bottle hitting the officer.”

When Wheeler denied claims the bottle was full at a hearing in May, prosecutors demanded the case was taken to a Newton hearing – a type of trial intended to get to the truth of contested facts.

However, the Crown Prosecution Service capitulated on the day of the hearing, accepting Wheeler had thrown the bottle recklessly but had not intended to injure the constable.

Delicia Wheeler, 18, of Magnolia Court, Pinehurst, pleaded guilty to assault of an emergency worker and being drunk and disorderly.

Defending, Andrew Hobson described his client’s behaviour as rather petulant: “She’s plainly young and also as a result of being young is inevitably immature.”

Wheeler suffered from depression and anxiety, he added. She was receiving treatment for the mental health issues: “When she is medicated she finds it rather easier to behave properly.”

Magistrates fined Wheeler £40. She must pay £25 compensation to the constable and a £30 victim surcharge.

Previously, Swindon JPs have told Wheeler to sort out her poor behaviour or face jail.

In May, she was before the bench for yelling obscenities at Asda shoppers, stole wine and had to be wrestled to the ground by police.

Handing her a community order, chairman of the bench Paul Gane told Wheeler to expect jail if she continued to offend: “It will be custody if you breach the order. This really is your last chance to comply with probation.”

Mr Gane said his colleagues had seriously considered sending Wheeler to prison: “You don’t take any notice of community orders. You just do what you like and continue to reoffend.”

A week later she was back in the dock. Amanda Lee, chairman of the bench on that occasion, said: “It needs to be stressed, Miss Wheeler, that this is getting out of hand. I’m pretty confident the more you keep coming back to court, this is not going to get any better.”