A Croydon woman who spat at police officers and hid a mobile phone up her bum after being arrested has returned to prison. 

Police placed a spit-hood on Roxanne Henry, 24, after she gobbed on an arresting officer before being taken into custody.

Shortly after officers removed the hood, Henry told officers she had stashed a mobile phone in a private place, which she wanted removed.

Henry was taken to a private room and searched by two female officers who managed to retrieve the device, only to be spat at again and kicked.

A spokesperson for Croydon police said: "Unfortunately during her time in custody Roxanne Henry had her spit hood removed, about the time she told officers she had to produce a mobile phone that she had inserted into backside passage.

"Our detention centres aren’t like some others in the world, and we prefer prisoners to cooperate with us so they are not put in restraints for any longer than is necessary.

"She was taken into a private room for a bit of dignity whilst she was further searched by two very unfortunate female officers to retrieve the mobile phone device, and then Roxanne decided that with fewer officers around that then was the time to attack again and the officers got spat on and kicked.

"Roxanne was restrained, searched, then taken to her cell wearing a spit hood."

Spit hoods have been criticised for posing dangers to prisoners, potentially inducing panic and obstructing breathing. They have been implicated in a number of deaths.

Police say they are necessary to prevent officers from being assaulted.

On Monday, Henry pleaded guilty to assaulting police.

She was returned to prison for breaching her licence and an extra two weeks were added to her sentence.