A Sussex woman who hit a senior RSPCA officer over the head with her handbag has been ordered to pay him £100 compensation.

Hysterical Barbara Joyce, 51, also threw two cups of water over Inspector Carroll Lamport, who was questioning her at a police station about allegations of animal neglect.

Joyce, of Manor Farm Cottages, South Heighton, near Newhaven, denied assaulting Mr Lamport following an RSPCA raid at her farm.

Magistrates heard how the inspector arrived at 7am on May 28 last year as part of an investigation into animal neglect and three emaciated dogs out of about 200 dogs, cats and horses were seized.

Mr Lamport, who has worked for the RSPCA for 20 years, said he was sitting on a bench doing paperwork when Joyce became hysterical. He told the court: "She lunged towards me swinging her handbag and hit me on the head.

"I tried to duck but she then threw herself on top of me. I pushed her away and then the police restrained her."

Joyce was convicted on two charges of common assault by Lewes magistrates last month and the case was adjourned for sentence.

Joyce, who runs the Quimper Stud, at Rodmell, near Lewes, was given a two-year conditional discharge and ordered to pay £300 costs as well as the compensation to the inspector.

The court heard that Joyce was shouting: "You won't kill my animals" when she attacked Mr Lamport before throwing the water over him.

Joyce, who specialises in breeding Shetland ponies, said she was under medication at the time and could not remember anything about the incidents but magistrates were satisfied the assaults were deliberate.

In February, a court cleared her of causing unnecessary suffering to the dogs.

She had maintained that she had rescued the animals and was helping them recover before finding them new homes.

Joyce was the target of animal rights activists in November 2001 when 50 animals were stolen from her farm. They included seven puppies and 23 dogs.

After the court case, she told The Argus that she was being victimised by the RSPCA and claimed she had suffered a breakdown because of the charity's "harassment".