A former NHS worker from Northfleet was branded as 'utterly despicable' after launching a campaign of 'wicked' harassment against a detective.

The officer was so concerned by the threats uttered by Janet Waller he warned his wife to take extra care if confronted by a woman.

She sent emails to DC Andrew Hume over a three-month period saying she was 'capable of pure evil' and would end up in the news.

Waller, 32, also used an NHS database to get the address of another victim, a constable with British Transport Police (BTP), threatening to pour petrol through his letterbox.

Officers, despatched to her home in Pier Road, following two hoax calls, were met with physical violence including kicking and spitting.

Waller, described as having 'an unpredictable personality fuelled by excessive alcohol abuse', has now been jailed for a year, after admitting offences of harassment and sending malicious communications.

She also pleaded guilty at Maidstone Crown Court to 17 charges of assaulting an emergency worker, committed on just three occasions.

The court heard that up until September last year Waller had never been in trouble with the police and her offending may have resulted from grief following the death of her father two months earlier.

Her campaign against DC Hume began in October and resulted in her sending him at least 100 'unpleasant' emails of which half were intended 'to maximise fear or distress'.

Judge Tony Baumgartner said: "Some of those emails were plainly wicked and included making threats to end your life and threats of violence towards police officers that might attend your home.

"You said you were capable of evil and 'When I'm on the news, these emails will be precious'.

"DC Hume felt it necessary to warn his wife to be extra vigilant if approached by a female stranger in case it was you.

"Some of those emails were plainly wicked and included making threats to end your life and threats of violence towards police..."

"Many you sent while you were on bail. One said: 'I still have links to the NHS system. See what I can do. I have details to **** you up'."

The court heard Waller phoned the BTP office at Shortlands Station on June 13 this year and requested to speak to a constable with who she had had previous dealings and then threatened to pour petrol through his letterbox, quoting his correct address.

Prosecutor Trevor Wright said: "When asked how she had got it, she said 'On the NHS system. I work at the NHS in London and accessed his personal details. Maybe he will contact me if I set fire to his house'."

The assaults were committed in May, August and September this year when one female police officer was attacked three times. She had keys and a mobile phone thrown at her before being scratched and kicked.

Others were also kicked, or spat at, while other officers had water and juice thrown at them.

All the offences were committed while Waller was subject to a 12-month conditional discharge imposed in September last year for criminal damage.

She had also been handed a community order in December last year for sending a malicious communication.

William Sneddon, defending, said Waller was 'extremely remorseful'.

But the judge told her: "This was a course of conduct towards police officers that was utterly despicable.

"You consume alcohol in a binging pattern and then, in a state of intoxication, you engage in disruptive behaviour that causes harm to others and to yourself."

"We made repeated attempts to engage with Waller and encourage her to change her ways and it is extremely regrettable that she was unable to respond to this encouragement."

Sergeant Lauren Bowron, from Kent Police, said: "The assaults that Waller subjected our officers to were thoroughly degrading and unprovoked.

"While police know that their position can open them up to dangerous and unpredictable incidents, they should not have to tolerate being assaulted.

"We made repeated attempts to engage with Waller and encourage her to change her ways and it is extremely regrettable that she was unable to respond to this encouragement.

"The sentence imposed by the court is proportionate and I sincerely hope she sees her time in custody as an opportunity to reform."

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