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 narrowly avoided incarceration after she attacked a police officer during an arrest attempt

Katie Bradsell, 35, faced no prison time following her conviction for assaulting a police officer while being detained for drunk driving. The incident occurred after she consumed eight pints of lager and Tequila during a seven-hour drinking session before heading home in her Audi.

Bradsell had been at her local pub during a quiz night in January, declining multiple offers of lifts from patrons and staff. Despite being visibly intoxicated, she insisted on driving the 1.1-mile route from Saughall Arms, Cheshire, to her residence.

Sue Summers, the pub’s owner, contacted the police after Bradsell claimed her home was “only down the road.” The officers arrived at her address to find her car parked in the driveway. When asked to provide a breath sample, Bradsell refused and kicked one officer as they escorted her toward the vehicle.

“She indicated her intention to leave in her car, even though she was intoxicated,” said Lisa McGuire, the prosecutor. “Several people around her offered to give her a lift, but she was determined to drive home, stating ‘It’s only down the road.'”

Bradsell’s defiance escalated at the police station, where she refused to undergo a second breath test and struck a door multiple times, confronting another officer. Neither officer sustained serious injuries during the altercations.

At Chester Magistrates Court, Bradsell admitted to two assault charges against emergency workers and a failure to provide a breath sample. The judge imposed a 12-month community order, requiring her to complete 20 rehabilitation activity days and attend a three-month alcohol treatment program.

As part of the sentence, she was ordered to pay £75 compensation to each officer and cover £199 in court costs. Bradsell had previously been convicted of racially aggravated harassment in 2023, during which she insulted a mixed-race neighbor with offensive remarks. She also had an earlier charge for assaulting an emergency worker in 2020.

Defence solicitor Catherine Higham noted Bradsell’s struggles with mental health, stating the client had relied on alcohol to manage her conditions. She mentioned that Bradsell was partially medicated but had difficulty securing consistent support from her general practitioner.

In sentencing, District Judge Jack McGarva remarked, “It is clear there are issues in your life making it hard to cope—though alcohol does little to aid that situation. For those with anxiety and depression, it’s likely the worst choice, as it acts as a depressant and leads to severe lows after highs.”