A teenage girl who drunkenly headbutted a paramedic and assaulted two others as they tried to treat her for an alcohol overdose walked from court with a community rehabilitation order on Wednesday.

The 16-year-old, from Street in Somerset, was found slumped against a shop window at about 8.30pm on December 22 after an all-day drinking session.

As paramedics tried to help the youngster, she lashed out shouting and screaming.

The court was told how the hysterical girl barged medic Claire Davies' shoulder, knocking her to the ground, and kicked her in the groin before hitting her colleague Patrick Murphy in the chest.

The girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, apologised to Ms Davies before going back into the shop to ask for more alcohol, the court was told.

But when another paramedic, Adrian Jones, told staff at the shop in Street High Street that the girl was drunk and underage she headbutted him.

Despite a history of violence and theft, the girl was allowed to walk from South Somerset Magistrates' Court in Yeovil without a custodial sentence.

Chair of the Bench Jane Sedgman said: "To attack a member of the emergency services in this way is extremely serious and, had you been an adult, the nature of this assault would have undoubtedly result in a prison sentence today.

"This is your last chance. This is an opportunity to access things that could turn your life around and you are capable of that."

Sam Morton, defending, told a previous hearing that the teenager had been pressured into drinking alcohol by friends earlier that day and that she was truly sorry for her actions, writing letters of apology to the paramedics involved.

Mr Morton added: "She has also admitted there is a problem with drink and drugs and has been looking to get help since the events of December 22.

"She should be given credit for her guilty plea – she claims she has never before been so intoxicated that she does not remember the events of the evening.

"It may be that it was not just alcohol involved – as at first there was fears of an overdose."

The girl pleaded guilty to three counts of assault at the previous hearing. Yesterday, she appeared in court with her social worker and father beside her – who issued an emotional plea to magistrates.

He told the court: "I, and the rest of my family, are absolutely disgusted with her behaviour and we have discussed it with her.

"She has admitted this offence, but this is her doing and it's having an effect on the rest of our family. If I am honest, I am at a loss."

Magistrates sentenced her to a 24-month community rehabilitation order. She was also given an electric tag and will be under curfew between 7pm to 7am for four months."

Speaking after the hearing, a spokesman for the South Western Ambulance Service said they were pleased that the offender had been prosecuted for her actions.

John Dunn, the Trust's Local Security Management Specialist and Health, Safety and Security manager, said: "The Trust takes a zero tolerance approach to abuse towards any of its staff and will prosecute wherever possible. Every member of staff should be able to fulfil their vital, life-saving role without fear of abuse and assault."