Drunk diversity rep who crippled Afghan veteran police officer by dragging him along road with her Range Rover during traffic stop avoids prison

By ELIZABETH HAIGH, SENIOR NEWS REPORTER Published: 10:40, 11 August 2026 | Updated: 10:43, 11 August 2026 A drunk diversity rep who crippled a police officer by dragging him along a city road with her 4x4 has been spared jail.  Candace Desilva, 37, of Anfield, drove off with the officer clinging to the side of her Range Rover in an attempt to flee after being stopped for traffic offences. She caused PC Simon Ward serious injuries and placed his life in danger, before moaning 'I just wanna go home to my children' when she was finally stopped. Desilva was driving on Leeds Street in Liverpool at around 4.15pm on September 14 2024 when she was seen using her phone behind the wheel and performing an illegal U-turn. She was pulled over by PC Ward, who noted she had 'glazed eyes and slurred speech'. Roadside tests were then carried out, and Desilva was found to have 90 micrograms of alcohol for 100ml of breath, more than twice the legal limit of 35 micrograms. Liverpool Crown Court heard PC Ward – a former RAF medic who served multiple tours in Afghanistan – requested for a female officer to attend the scene so Desilva could be searched. Prosecutor Nardeen Nemat told the court PC Ward was informed no female officer was available, prompting Desilva to tell him: 'See, there is nobody else coming. You're not f***ing searching me. I'm going. You can't stop me.' Desilva then started the engine of her vehicle and attempted to drive off.  Candace Desilva, 37, of Anfield, drove off with the officer clinging to the side of her Range Rover in an attempt to flee after being stopped for traffic offences Fearing for the safety of a nearby mother with a pram, PC Ward tried to remove the keys from the ignition and told the mother-of-four to stop, before grabbing hold of the steering wheel. As Desilva drove off, the officer was left clinging to the side of the vehicle as she repeatedly hit out at him, trying to dislodge him and causing lacerations to his fingers and hand.  PC Ward managed to hit his panic button and deployed his PAVA spray – but this only prompted Desilva to tell her passenger to put the car into 'sport mode'. The traffic officer then used the spray again, this time against the female passenger.  After the car stopped a short distance from the initial traffic stop, Desilva was captured on bodycam footage shouting 'What is that spray? What is that spray?.' Upon being informed she was being arrested on suspicion of assaulting an emergency worker, Desilva then added: 'I just wanna go home to my children. I haven't touched you. I've done nothing. Drag me out please.' She then refused orders to place her hand on her chest while being detained, stating: 'I can't see. You pepper sprayed me. I can't see. My eyes are burning. Is your camera on? Let me see, is your camera on? I'm not afraid of him.' She then went on to resist arrest by throwing herself to the floor, causing a set of handcuffs to scrape down a second officer's forearm. The court heard how the traffic officer still has to use a crutch to walk, 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. Charles Lander, defending, told the court his client is a mother of four, with two of her children diagnosed with neurodivergent conditions and special educational needs. He said: 'The offence dates back to September 2024. For whatever reason, the prosecution took their time to ultimately charge her with these offences. Desilva was driving on Leeds Street in Liverpool at around 4.15pm on September 14 2024 when she was seen using her phone behind the wheel and performing an illegal U-turn 'She has worked for four years as an account manager for the Royal College of Physicians. They are fully aware of these proceedings. Her partner does not work. The reality is, if she loses her liberty today, they will lose their residence. Her partner would not be able to fund the rent. 'This defendant has not tried to run away from her actions on that day. Immediately, before any court proceedings were initiated, she voluntarily registered with Alcoholics Anonymous and NHS talking therapies. She recognised that she had drunk too much on that day. 'Clearly that is not the fault of PC Ward, who had the misfortune to come out to a drunken individual who behaved in the way that she did. 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.' He added that Desilva's partner had had an affair and fathered a child outside of the relationship, who they brought with them to the UK from Bermuda. The court was also told Desilva has PTSD and a history of mental health issues, and 'really would suffer in custody'.  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. She was previously fined by magistrates for drink-driving and using a mobile phone while driving in relation to the same incident.  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. '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. This is a very, very serious matter indeed.' The judge added: '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.' Desilva was also banned from driving for three years. She will be required to pass an extended retest before being allowed back behind the wheel.