Confronting police bodycam footage has captured the moment a woman spat in the mouth of a police officer during what began as a routine welfare check.

The footage, obtained by 7NEWS, shows 22-year-old Emma Glass directing a stream of abuse at constable Leah Hannigan.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Bodycam captures moment Adelaide woman spits in police officer’s mouth

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“You’re a f---ing d---head,” she is heard telling Hannigan.

Moments later, she adds: “Oh, f--- off.”

The abuse continues as she repeatedly directs obscene insults towards police, including calling officers a “f---ing twat” and a “f---ing c---”.:

The confrontation quickly escalated. The footage shows Glass stepping towards Hannigan before spitting directly into the officer’s mouth.

Footage shows 22-year-old Emma Glass directing a stream of abuse at constable Leah Hannigan. Credit: SAPOL/7NEWS

Police said officers were trying to assist Glass after she was detained under the Mental Health Act when the incident unfolded.

Acting Assistant Commissioner David O’Donovan described the attack as “despicable”.

“They were not going to arrest them, they were going to help them,” he said on Monday outside court.

Glass later pleaded guilty to assaulting the officer.

The court heard she was already serving a suspended sentence for unrelated offending at the time of the incident.

Police previously expressed frustration at the penalty imposed, arguing the six-month sentence handed to Glass did not adequately reflect the seriousness of the assault.

However, the timeframe to appeal the sentence has now expired.

Glass’s mother said her daughter had been struggling with drug addiction and was remorseful.

“She is so sorry,” she said outside court.

“Just don’t get into drugs, it’s the worst thing.

“She’s trying to get her life back.”