by Sam Lennon

A shoplifter who ran over a PCSO and was allowed to go to Australia before sentencing has now been jailed.

Sapphia Da-Silva was this afternoon given a four-month term at Ashford Magistrates' Court.

The court heard that last November she had sent PCSO Daniel Smith flying 5ft into the air after she tried to get away after being caught stealing clothes at Ashford Designer Outlet.

At the first hearing that same month magistrates had put off the sentencing so she could go on a seven-week trip to Australia over Christmas with her mentally ill mother.

But chairman of the bench Anne Norris, who had agreed to the delay, now told Da-Silva: "It was a horrific crime, indefensible and thoroughly appalling.

"You deliberately assaulted a PCSO in your car and you had gone equipped to steal."

Da-Silva had escaped after hitting PCSO Smith and police later found a magnetic tag remover in her silver BMW.

Da-Silva, 29, of Ixworth Place, Chelsea, London, admitted to assaulting PCSO Smith, failing to stop after an accident and stealing more than £400 in clothes from the outlet's Gap and Ralph Lauren stores.

Nigel Numas, for Da-Silva said after sentencing an appeal would be lodge.

He said his client and no previous convictions and was ashamed of her actions, but had ran into heavy debt and was under strain from looking after her mother.

Da-Silva was also banned from driving for a year and ordered to pay £500 compensation to PCSO Smith.

He and a second injured PCSO, Stuart Manning, are now back at work after being off sick after the incident.

PCSO Manning had suffered muscle injuries as he had held onto the car door while Da-Silva was trying to drive off.