Court: Woman Given Suspended Sentence In UK
A Bermudian woman has been given a suspended prison sentence in the UK for driving while over the alcohol limit and injuring a police officer who tried to stop her from driving away, with the judge telling Candace Desilva that her behaviour was “absolutely appalling.”
The Liverpool Echo reported that the “Liverpool Crown Court heard on Monday that Desilva was pulled over by PC Simon Ward on Leeds Street in Liverpool city centre at around 4.15pm on September 14 2024 after being seen using her mobile phone behind the wheel and performing an illegal U-turn. The 37-year-old, of Oakfield Road in Anfield, was then noted to have “glazed eyes and slurred speech”, with roadside tests finding her to have 90 micrograms of alcohol for 100ml of breath, the legal limit being 35 micrograms.
“Nardeen Nemat, prosecuting, described how PC Ward requested for a female colleague to attend the scene in order to allow for Desilva to be searched. But, after he was told that no such officer was available, the defendant said: “See, there is nobody else coming. You’re not f***ing searching me. I’m going. You can’t stop me.”
“At this, Desilva started the engine and began driving the vehicle forwards. PC Ward meanwhile attempted to remove the keys from the ignition and repeatedly told her to stop the car, having “feared for the safety” of a mum pushing a pram nearby on the pavement.
“The officer meanwhile grabbed hold of the steering wheel in an attempt to avoid being dragged underneath the vehicle, with his feet being lifted off the ground as a result. The driver meanwhile repeatedly struck out at him, causing lacerations to his fingers and the palm of his hand.
“PC Ward was then able to hit his panic button and deployed his PAVA spray into Desilva’s eyes, at which she told her passenger to place the car into sport mode, leading to this second woman also being sprayed. He continues walk using a crutch and wears a knee brace as a result of injuries to his leg, which it is feared will be permanent, as well as suffering from symptoms of PTSD.”
“Desilva admitted causing serious injury by dangerous driving and assaulting an emergency worker. She was handed a 28-month imprisonment suspended for two years with 140 hours of unpaid work and a rehabilitation activity requirement of up to 15 days.
Sentencing, Judge Garrett Byrne said: “You were over the legal limit, considerably so, and you were rightly arrested and cautioned. You then put the key in the ignition and made to drive off. PC Ward took hold of your hands to stop you.
“You then placed the vehicle in drive and drove forwards with PC Ward being dragged along, shouting that you were going home. You travelled about six car lengths before the officer was able to incapacitate you. Your behaviour continued by lashing out at him.
“PC Ward describes desperately trying not be dragged under the vehicle. He now suffers from very serious and lifelong injuries. Your behaviour here was absolutely appalling.
He added, “There is one matter and one matter alone that weighs in favour of suspension, and that is this. That you have four children, two of whom have special needs.
“Although you did not give them sufficient thought that day, I have to. And for that reason and that reason alone, I will suspend the sentence.”
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