The actions of a woman who told another person "I'll make sure you get it, bitch" and spat at a police officer while being arrested were labelled "disgusting".
Grace Jane Rivers resisted police while being arrested, and tried to spit at an officer.
"Spitting in the face of an officer - that's disgusting, sir," police prosecutor Sergeant Drew Morrison told Judge David Cameron in Whanganui District Court.
"We would rather be punched in the face than spat on."
Rivers had been arguing with some people on December 2 when she began threatening them, saying they would "get it".
Defence lawyer Stephen Ross said his client was "very remorseful" and had asked to apologise to the police officer through the court. "She was very intoxicated."
Rivers pleaded guilty to assaulting police, resisting police and behaving threateningly, and was sentenced to 80 hours of community work and nine months' intensive supervision.