Woman, 32, arrested for 'drug driving' walks free from court

Ex-telesales worker mother-of-one, 32, who hurled abuse at police as they arrested her for ‘drug driving’ walks free from court after she claimed officers had been ‘heavy handed’

• Cheryl Cawley, 32, lost her temper after cannabis was discovered in her vehicle
• She became ‘aggressive’ to police while her pupils were described as ‘dilated 
• Cawley claimed cops were ‘heavy handed’ in Greater Manchester last January
• The former telesales worker was sentenced to a 12 month community order and told to complete 40 hours unpaid work and 15 days of Rehabilitative Activity 

A mother-of-one who hurled abuse at police officers as they arrested her for ‘drug driving’ has walked free from court after she claimed officers had been ‘heavy handed’.

Cheryl Cawley, 32, lost her temper and refused to cooperate with authorities after cannabis was discovered in the passenger door of her car in Radcliffe, Greater Manchester on 28, January 2021.

The former telesales worker was arrested and taken to Bury Police Station where she became ‘agitated and aggressive’ while her pupils were described as ‘dilated’.

Inquiries revealed she had a history of violence towards police and 2018 and was locked up after assaulting a policewoman with a coat hanger.

Initially, Cawley faced up to three years jail after she was charged with assaulting an emergency worker and then affray following the latest incident last year.

But on the day of her trial following legal discussions, prosecutors accepted her guilty plea to the lesser charge of using threatening behaviour which has a maximum sentence of just six months imprisonment.

At Minshull Street Crown Court, Manchester, Cawley was sentenced to a 12 month community order and told to complete 40 hours unpaid work and 15 days of Rehabilitative Activity.

She was also banned from driving for 16 months after she admitted to failing to provide a specimen of blood.

Cheryl Cawley, 32, (pictured) lost her temper and refused to cooperate with authorities after cannabis was discovered in the passenger door of her car in Radcliffe, Greater Manchester on 28, January 2021

She told probation offices police had been ‘heavy handed’ with her during the incident but no further details were disclosed. 

Her boyfriend Dean Seddon, 32, who was a passenger in the car said he was the owner of the cannabis seized by police.

Sentencing Judge Maurice Greene told her: ‘You said that the police were heavy-handed, that may or may not be the case. They asked for a sample at the roadside.

‘They took the view you were under the influence of some substance and they arrested you. For some reason, maybe because the police were heavy-handed, you lost your temper and you were threatening and abusive to the police.

‘They took you to the police station. Subsequently, they asked you to provide a specimen of blood which you refused. You pleaded guilty to those offences, failing to provide a specimen for analysis and a public order matter as a result of a discussion.

‘You were originally charged with assaulting an emergency worker, which is a serious offence. A few weeks ago that was changed to affray.

The former telesales worker (pictured) was arrested and taken to Bury Police Station where she became ‘agitated and aggressive’ while her pupils were described as ‘dilated’

‘You have a number of difficulties. You have responsibility for an eight-year-old child.

‘There are a number of positive issues here which I take very much into account.’

Earlier Miss Denise Fitzpatrick, prosecuting, said: ‘On 28th of January 2021, Cheryl Cawley drove on four roads in Radcliffe while being followed by a police officer.

‘Shortly after 4.10pm, the police officer followed the car, and activated the emergency equipment. The officer stopped the car when she was driving on Queen Street. When the officer spoke to the defendant, she spoke extremely quickly. Her pupils seemed very large. She appeared to be agitated and appeared to be under the influence of drugs.

‘The police officer began a search of the vehicle and in the passenger door two small buds of cannabis were located. The male passenger, her partner, Mr Seddon, said the cannabis belonged to him.

‘As a result of suspicions that she had been driving under the influence of a drug, the officer requested a drug test. That was refused and she was subsequently arrested.

At Minshull Street Crown Court (Pictured), Manchester, Cawley was sentenced to a 12 month community order and told to complete 40 hours unpaid work and 15 days of Rehabilitative Activity. She was also banned from driving for 16 months

‘The defendant’s mother attended at the location where Cheryl Cawley was, on Queens Street, which is a residential street. When her mother and partner were there, Ms Cawley shouted abuse toward the officers. She was standing on the pavement of a public road. She was arrested and taken to Bury Police Station. She was described as being agitated and aggressive on arrival. Her pupils were described as dilated.

‘A police officer at the station suspected she was under the influence of drugs. She refused to provide a specimen of blood for analysis. She was told it would be taken by a doctor or other professional. She was told a failure to provide would lead to a prosecution.

‘She was then asked a second time for a specimen of blood. She confirmed her refusal.’

The court heard there was no further action in relation to the cannabis which was said to be of very small quantity. 

Cawley, of Radcliffe, near Bury, Greater Manchester had ten previous offences on her record ‘mainly for violence and often against police constables.’

In mitigation defence lawyer Michael Lee said: ‘She has an eight-year-old dependent and the inevitable driving disqualification will be especially hard for her, due to her being a mother. Disqualification is a significant punishment for someone who needs a car for the school runs.’

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