Blackburn magistrates heard Rebecca Stephenson had numerous previous convictions for assaulting emergency workers. But a deputy district judge said she had decided against an immediate prison sentence because she had heard about the first glimmer of positivity in the defendant s life for a long time. Stephenson, 22, of Cross Street, Clayton-le-Moors, pleaded guilty to being drunk and disorderly and two charges of assaulting an emergency worker. She was sentenced to 24 weeks in prison suspended for 12 months with six months drug rehabilitation requirement and 20 days rehabilitation activity requirement. Passing sentence Deputy District Judge Jayne Bryan said she was satisfied the custody threshold had been passed.