A teenage girl fell over in a drunken stupor on a family night out - and then played dead while being tackled by police.
McDonald's worker Chelsea Henley, 18, kicked an official patrol car during a night out before falling to the ground and keeping her eyes closed while an officer struggled to get her up. Henley had gone on a night out with her family last month in Warrington where she had been drinking heavily.
She was given a chance and was advised to go home but she defiantly pushed the police officer in the chest. Eventually, she was thrown into a police van where she kicked out at officers before being escorted to a cell to sober up.
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Appearing at Warrington Magistrates Court, Henley of Birchwood, Warrington, faced up to 12 months jail after admitting to assaulting an emergency worker and being drunk and disorderly. Despite this, she only received a £140 fine with £119 in costs and a victim surcharge.
The court heard she was initially charged by police with being drunk and only received the assault charge after a review by CPS lawyers. Sentencing Henley, chair of the magistrates' bench, Katherine Whitaker told her: “I hope that you don’t think it was a good night given that you have ended up in court. It certainly does not look like a good night out to me.
“Emergency workers should be protected in their work and they should not expect to be assaulted in their line of work. There will not be any compensation but I hope that you will take note of this and that we do not see you again.”
The court heard how officers spotted the intoxicated Henley in the Bridge Street area of Warrington town centre in the early hours of May 29.
“PC Pringle was on uniformed duty with another officer at 2.15am in Warrington town centre when their attention was drawn to the defendant," Alex Morgan, prosecuting, said.
''She then walked around and approached PC Pringle and kicked his motor vehicle. It caused no damage but in doing so she fell to the floor. She remained on the floor with her eyes closed but still breathing.
“PC Brown tried to rouse her but the defendant would only get up when she was informed she was going to be arrested.”
The court also heard that the officer ordered Henley to leave the area, to which she responded by pushing him with both hands to his chest. “PC Pringle took the defendant to the floor and arrested her for police assault,” Ms Morgan added.
"When being placed into the back of the police vehicle she tried to kick out before being restrained and placed in the back of the police vehicle.” The court was then informed that Henley had never previously appeared before a court.
In mitigation defence lawyer Gary Schooler said: “This is clearly out of character. She had been out during the course of the evening with family and friends and had clearly consumed excess alcohol. She was observed to be in an intoxicated condition in presence of her family.
“She has pushed PC Pringle but nothing other than that. There is a reference to her kicking out but that did not involve any contact with the officers. Police clearly looked at all the evidence and decided the level of offending was low and that were only going to charge her with being drunk and disorderly.
“She was never formally interviewed about anything else. However, the CPS have a duty to review the charges and they have done that. She pleaded guilty at the first opportunity.”
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