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 Avoids Jail After Kicking Officer During Drunk Driving Arrest

Katie Bradsell, 35, faced no jail time after assaulting a police officer during her arrest for driving under the influence, following a seven-hour drinking session that included eight pints of lager and Tequila. The incident occurred in January when she declined multiple ride offers from pub patrons and staff, opting to drive home in her Audi despite being visibly intoxicated.

The pub’s landlady, Sue Summers, contacted law enforcement after Bradsell claimed her residence was “only down the road” from the Saughall Arms in Cheshire. She had been at the venue from around 3 p.m. to 10 p.m., then departed without assistance. Officers later arrived at her home in Saughall, near Chester, to find her car parked in the driveway.

Bradsell was taken into custody after refusing a breath test and striking a police officer while being led to the vehicle. At the station, she kicked a door repeatedly, targeting another officer in a fit of anger. Neither officer suffered serious injuries during the encounter.

Legal Charges and Sentence

Bradsell pleaded guilty to two counts of assault on emergency workers and a charge of failing to provide a breath sample. She was sentenced to a 12-month community order, which includes 20 rehabilitation activity days and a three-month alcohol treatment program. Additionally, she must pay £75 compensation to each officer and cover £199 in court costs and a surcharge.

Background and Previous Offenses

Bradsell’s case included a prior conviction for racially aggravated harassment in 2023, when she insulted a mixed-race neighbor with derogatory remarks. She also had an earlier record for assaulting an emergency worker in 2020. The prosecution noted she had arrived at the Saughall Arms pub in the mid-afternoon, staying through its regular quiz night.

“Miss Bradsell had been drinking at the pub from 3 p.m. to around 10 p.m., and Ms. Summers predicted she had consumed approximately ‘eight pints of lager and a shot of alcohol,'” stated Lisa McGuire, the prosecutor.

“She was medicated to some extent but still struggled to secure help from her GP,” said Catherine Higham, defense solicitor, highlighting Bradsell’s mental health challenges and reliance on alcohol as a coping mechanism.