A woman who threw paint over a statute told police it was performance art, a court was told today.

Ashley Fox, 31, threw paint, perfume, whisky and pages torn from a book over the bronze globe in the Vancouver Quarter in King's Lynn, magistrates in the town heard.

Fox of Old South, Lynn, had earlier denied causing criminal damage. But she was convicted after a trial in her absence.

Fred Sagoe, prosecuting, said she was seen ripping up paper and throwing it on the floor and throwing paint, perfume and whisky at the statue. He added: 'It cost £150 to put right the damage she caused.'

Darren Wenn, site supervisor at the shopping centre, said he saw a woman throwing books, paint, perfume and alcohol over the globe at around 5.30pm on Thursday, November 9. He called the police after she refused to stop.

PC Mandy Shreeve said she was called to a report of criminal damage in the centre.

'As I arrived I saw some red paint on the monument,' she said. 'I was told the female who had caused the damage walked away towards the bus station.

'When I caught up with the female she had red paint on her hands. I arrested her, I cautioned her, her reply was it was art.'

Mr Sagoe said during interview Fox admitted she had thrown paint on the floor but said it was water soluble.

'She stated she did all this, it was performance art and she wanted to make a statement,' he said.

There was no evidence from Fox, who was not represented in court. Chair of the bench Louise Barber said: 'We do find the case proved.'

Magistrates heard Fox had failed to attend the previous day, when she was convicted in her absence of assaulting a police officer.

Mr Sagoe said she punched PC Watson in the face after officers broke down her door to execute a warrant for failing to attend a previous court hearing.

Fox had also been given a year's conditional discharge on May 18, 2017, for assaulting a police constable.

Mrs Barber ordered Fox to pay £150 to West Norfolk council for the cost of cleaning up the statue and £50 compensation to PC Watson within 28 days.

She added there would be no separate penalty for breaching the conditional discharge.