Story by Timothy Sigsworth
A drink-driving mother who dragged a policeman along a road with her Range Rover has been spared jail, despite inflicting lifelong injuries.
Candace Desilva was pulled over by Pc Simon Ward, who saw her using her mobile phone behind the wheel and performing an illegal U-turn in Liverpool on Sept 14, 2024.
The 37-year-old, a lead diversity representative at the Royal College of Physicians, took a breathalyser test which found she was three times over the legal drink-drive limit.
Nardeen Nemat, prosecuting, told the court that Pc Ward, a former Royal Air Force medic, then asked for a female officer to be sent out to search Desilva, only to be told none was available.
Desilva then said: “See, there is nobody else coming. You’re not f—— searching me. I’m going. You can’t stop me.”
The mother-of-four attempted to drive away but Pc Ward held on to the steering wheel and the side of the vehicle as she hit his hand and fingers in an attempt to dislodge him.
He used pepper spray on her and a female passenger, who was attempting to put the Range Rover into “sport mode” – which increases acceleration – before the car stopped.
Pc Ward then arrested Desilva on suspicion of assaulting an emergency worker, to which she replied: “I just wanna go home to my children. I haven’t touched you. I’ve done nothing. Drag me out please.”
After the incident, Pc Ward was forced to walk with a crutch, wear a knee brace and suffered symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder.
Impact on children
Desilva, admitted causing serious injury by dangerous driving, assaulting an emergency worker and drink-driving when she appeared at Liverpool Crown Court.
However, Judge Garrett Byrne handed her a 28-month sentence suspended for two years, with 140 hours of unpaid work as he was concerned about the impact a jail sentence would have on her children.
Charles Lander, defending, said Desilva had four children, two of whom were neurodivergent and had special educational needs, and “really would suffer in custody”.
“Her partner does not work,” he said. “The reality is, if she loses her liberty today, they will lose their residence. Her partner would not be able to fund the rent.”
Mr Lander added: “She is not a regular drinker. She drank too much on that day and got into her car and behaved in the way that she did. She has not drunk any alcohol since that day.”
Judge Byrne told Desilva: “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.”
He added: “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.
“Your reckless actions did not just cause serious and permanent injuries to a public servant – someone acting on behalf all of us to protect us, keeping the roads safe from people such as yourself who are prepared to drink and drive – but you could have killed him.”
Desilva was also banned from the road for three years. She was previously fined by magistrates for other drink-driving offences and using a mobile phone while at the wheel.
