A senior police official has decried a suspended jail sentence given to a diversity representative who caused life-altering injuries to a police officer after dragging him alongside her vehicle during a traffic stop. Chris McGlade, chair of the Merseyside Police Federation, stated that the justice system needs to re-evaluate its support for officers.
Candace Desilva, 37, was handed a 28-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, after pleading guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving and assaulting an emergency worker. The judge cited Desilva's four children, two of whom have special needs, as the sole reason for not imposing immediate custody.
McGlade, who represents officers like PC Simon Ward, called the sentence "disgusting" and a failure to deter those who endanger police lives. He emphasized that PC Ward, an Afghan veteran who previously served as an RAF medic, could have died and highlighted that police officers in the United Kingdom are assaulted approximately every 10 minutes.
Desilva, an accounts officer and diversity lead at the Royal College of Physicians, was stopped by PC Ward on September 14, 2024, in Liverpool. She was observed using her phone while driving and making an illegal U-turn. PC Ward noted signs of impairment, and breathalyzer tests revealed an alcohol level nearly three times the legal limit.
When PC Ward attempted to conduct a search, Desilva refused, stating she would not be searched and intended to drive away. She started her vehicle and began to move as PC Ward tried to intervene, fearing for the safety of a nearby mother and child. The officer was left clinging to the side of Desilva's Range Rover as she drove, causing him to sustain injuries to his fingers and hand.
PC Ward deployed pepper spray twice during the incident. Desilva's passenger then reportedly engaged the car's "sport mode." The vehicle eventually stopped, and Desilva was heard on bodycam footage questioning the pepper spray and asserting she had done nothing wrong. She also resisted arrest, causing a second officer to sustain abrasions.
PC Ward's injuries are severe and potentially permanent, requiring him to use a crutch and a knee brace. He has also experienced symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). A statement read in court on his behalf described him as a "vulnerable shell of a man" who has been forced to register as disabled and has been unable to return to his previous role, now working in a desk-based position after being off work for 19 months.
Desilva's defense counsel highlighted her role as a mother to four children, two with special needs, and stated that her imprisonment would lead to the loss of their home. The defense also noted Desilva's voluntary enrollment in Alcoholics Anonymous and therapy following the incident, asserting she had not consumed alcohol since. Desilva also has a history of PTSD and mental health issues.
Sentencing, Judge Garrett Byrne acknowledged the "appalling" nature of Desilva's actions and the "very serious and lifelong injuries" inflicted upon PC Ward, adding that she could have killed him. However, the judge ultimately suspended the sentence based on her responsibility as a mother to children with special needs.
Desilva received a three-year driving ban and will need to pass an advanced driving test before regaining her license. She was previously fined for drink-driving and using a mobile phone while driving.