Policewoman off work after hair pulled in attack in Cononley (From Keighley News)

Policewoman off work after hair pulled in attack in Cononley

8:00am Friday 4th January 2013 in News

A drunk woman pulled a police officer’s hair so hard she was still off work two months later, magistrates heard.

Hayley Brogan, 38, had been driven by two officers to her mother’s house in Cononley and was prone on the back seat of the car when she leant over and grabbed PC Gillian Bell by the hair.

Brogan had been found by PC Bell and her colleague, PC Andy Woolley, very drunk and slumped in a public park in Cononley at about 2.45am on September 28, Skipton magistrates were told.

PC Woolley had got out of the car in Meadowcroft to try to raise Brogan’s mother when the defendant, who had been lying on the back seat kicking her legs, grabbed hold of PC Bell’s hair.

Brogan pulled her down towards her, despite shouts for her to stop, said Caroline Midgley, prosecuting.

PC Bell was released when PC Woolley, alerted by the shouting, opened the back door of the car and grabbed Brogan’s legs.

Brogan became violent again once out of the car, and kicked PC Bell in the shin.

Mrs Midgley said two months following the incident, PC Bell was still off work and needing weekly physiotherapy treatment at the police convalescent home.

Brogan, who admitted assault causing actual bodily harm, had been drinking heavily after learning she had lost a lengthy custody battle for her child.

In mitigation, Jane Nield said Brogan had woken the following day in the police station with no understanding of how she had got there. “She is very sorry at what happened to the officer and is very remorseful,” added Mrs Nield.

Brogan, of Moor Lane in Eastburn, was given a six-month community order. She was also ordered to pay £150 compensation to the officer and costs of £45.