An Adelaide anti-vaccine advocate, known for violently attacking a pregnant police officer, resulting in the officer being scalped, has been sentenced to jail after prosecutors successfully appealed against her initial controversial punishment.

Raina Cruise was sentenced to three years and nine months in prison for her 2021 assault of a pregnant police officer, Anthea Beck. 

Beck had clumps of hair and scalp torn from her head during the drunken attack, which was captured on police bodycam.

Cruise was found guilty but received a suspended sentence in December.

Following the original sentencing, the Police Association urged the attorney-general to initiate an appeal, and today, the prosecutors achieved success when Cruise received a new sentence.

“This sends a very, very clear message that any assault on police officers may see you spend time in jail,” Attorney-General Kyam Maher said.

Defence lawyer Nick Vadasz said Cruise will likely “be very upset and distressed, she wasn’t expecting to go to jail”.

She will be eligible to apply for parole in two years.