A woman who attempted to snatch a child and punched his father after smoking a legal high has been jailed.

Alina Korosteliova admitted assault and threatening behaviour at Maidstone Magistrates’ Court following the incident in The Broadway in June.

Entering the plea she said: “I’m sorry with all my heart.”

The 32-year-old of Quarry Road, Tovil, approached the man and his five-year-old son outside public toilets by the River Medway just after 6pm, shouted ‘give me back my child’ and tried to grab the boy.

In the commotion Korosteliova punched the man in the face and bit his knuckles, breaking the skin.

In a statement the victim said: “I had never seen her before, she had no reason to assault me.”

He added: “At one point we were in the middle of moving traffic to try and get away from her and to draw attention to what was happening.”

The pair managed to shelter in a nearby ambulance and could hear Korosteliova outside being aggressive to paramedics and the public.

John Roberts, defending, said: “This was bizarre and worrying behaviour. There is no doubt it was drug induced.”

The incident followed a period where Korosteliova’s life had spiralled out of control, the court heard before this year she had never taken drugs but was introduced to spice, a strand of synthetic cannabis, by a friend and started smoking it in January.

Since then her behaviour had become increasingly concerning. Just two weeks before the incident at The Broadway she entered Archbishop’s Palace, in Mill Street, and assaulted three members of staff.

She later claimed she carried out the assaults because she thought she was a Russian spy and was handed a 90-day suspended sentence.

Korosteliova, originally from Lithuania, has spent 65 days at Bronzefield prison since the latest incident, where she has received psychiatric care.

Mr Roberts said she has made good progress. At the time of her appearance she had been off medication for two weeks.

He added: “She knows her drug use has affected her and others. Before she started using she had only committed minor offences.”

He said Korosteliova — who had failed to appear at several previous hearings due to her behaviour — wanted to get her life back of track and was keen to pursue a career in health care.

He added she was in a relationship with John Barham and had lived with him in Quarry Road.

Mr Roberts said Barham was a bad influence on Korosteliova but is currently in custody after allegedly holding three people against their will.

He said in Barham’s absence Korosteliova had a good opportunity to get back into the community.

Magistrates activated the suspended sentence in full and handed her a 40-day consecutive term, however due to the time served on remand and the fact she only has to serve half of the imposed sentence she is now eligible for release.

She was also ordered to pay £250 compensation and a £150 court charge.

Korosteliova will also have to report to the probation service for 12 months.