Hairdresser who kicked police officer trying to arrest her for driving home after downing Tequila and lager during seven-hour drinking binge is spared jail
Hairdresser who kicked police officer during arrest for drunk driving gets community order
Incident details and court outcome
Katie Bradsell, 35, avoided prison time after admitting to assaulting a police officer during her arrest for driving home while intoxicated. The incident occurred in January when she consumed eight pints of lager and Tequila over a seven-hour drinking session at her local pub. Despite being offered lifts by friends and staff, she chose to drive her Audi for the 1.1-mile journey.
Police involvement and the arrest
Sue Summers, the pub’s landlady, alerted authorities after Bradsell claimed her home was “only down the road” from the Saughall Arms in Cheshire. Officers arrived at her residence to find the car parked in her driveway. She was arrested for refusing a breath test and then kicked an officer as he led her to the police car.
At the station, Bradsell again declined to provide a breath sample and aggressively kicked a door, targeting another officer. Though neither officer sustained serious injuries, the altercation led to two assault charges. She was sentenced to 20 rehabilitation activity days, a three-month alcohol treatment program, and ordered to pay £75 compensation to each officer, plus £199 in court costs and a surcharge.
Previous convictions and context
Bradsell had a prior conviction for assaulting an emergency worker in 2020 and was charged with racially aggravated harassment in 2023. During an argument in her cul-de-sac, she insulted a mixed-race neighbor, calling them a “fat smelly sweaty p***” and an “ugly c***.”
Prosecution and defense arguments
Lisa McGuire, the prosecutor, stated that Bradsell had been drinking from 3pm to 10pm at the pub, which hosted its Wednesday quiz night. She noted that Ms. Summers predicted the hairdresser had consumed “eight pints of lager and a shot of alcohol.”
“Miss Bradsell then indicated her intention to leave in her car, even though she was intoxicated. A few people around her said, ‘We will give you a lift home.’”
Defense solicitor Catherine Higham highlighted Bradsell’s mental health struggles, explaining she used alcohol to manage stress. She noted the client had been medicated but faced challenges in accessing her GP’s support.
“It is clear that there are issues that have gone on in your life making it very difficult for you to cope — though having a massive amount of alcohol does not help that at all.”
During sentencing, District Judge Jack McGarva emphasized that alcohol exacerbates mental health issues, such as anxiety and depression. “For people with anxiety and depression, alcohol is probably the worst thing you can use. It is a depressant and after a high there is a massive low,” he remarked.
