Drunk mother-of-three, 36, who dragged a screaming policewoman 130 feet along a road is jailed after being caught drink-driving another TWO TIMES whilst on bail
- Chantelle Owen pulled the PC Amy Greenwood along road in Bury, Manchester
- Bodycam footage showed officer screaming and ordering Owen to stop the car
- She was trying to avoid drink driving arrest following argument with boyfriend
- But Owen was arrested for drink driving on further two occasions after incident
- Judge referenced PC Andrew Harper case as he jailed her for eight months
A drunk mother-of-three dragged a screaming policewoman 130 feet along a road by her knees as she drove off in a BMW trying to avoid an arrest for drink driving – in a case eerily reminiscent to the death of PC Andrew Harper.
Chantelle Owen, 36, pulled PC Amy Greenwood along a residential road in Bury, Manchester, as the officer tried to prevent her from speeding off on December 20 last year.
PC Greenwood lost her footing during the chase and was dragged along the street by her knees, before she was eventually able to haul herself up and grab the steering wheel.
Dramatic bodycam footage showed PC Greenwood screaming and ordering Owen to stop her car.
Owen eventually stopped the car, but refused to exit the vehicle and had to be forcibly removed by officers.
A subsequent breath test showed she was double the drink drive limit.
Owen was granted police bail, but while awaiting trial for the incident, she was caught drink driving on a further two occasions in the following two months.
She wept as she was jailed for eight months at Minshull Street Crown Court in Manchester.
Judge Paul Lawton condemned Owen for playing the victim and praised PC Greenwood for her bravery – citing the case of PC Harper who was dragged to his death by a car fleeing the scene of a burglary in August 2019.
Chantelle Owen (pictured) was nearly twice the drink drive limit when the incident took place shortly before Christmas last year
The mother-of-three drove along the road in a BMW in an attempt to evade arrest for drink driving
The court heard that PC Greenwood was called to an address in Bury following reports Owen was having an argument with her boyfriend.
Peter Malone, prosecuting, told the court: ‘Upon arrival the defendant was seen in a black BMW and shouting that she had asked a friend to contact the police. The officers spoke to the defendant at the side of the vehicle and she said she wanted to go home.
‘She switched on the ignition but the officers believed the defendant was under the influence of alcohol and that she should be breathalysed. She was asked to switch the car engine off but she then said she was not going to exit the vehicle.
‘PC Greenwood then leant into the vehicle to turn off the ignition but at that point the defendant started to drive off with the officer holding onto the car door.
‘The officer lost her footing and was dragged along the road. She managed to grab the steering wheel and the defendant stopped the car.
‘PC Greenwood was dragged along the road for 40 metres. She was left with grazing to one knee and redness to the other.
‘Her uniform trousers and boots were damaged and the officers said she was terrified of falling under the wheels of the vehicle whilst she was being dragged.’
Mr Malone said that, at the end of her shift, PC Greenwood ‘just wanted to get home to her family’.
At the end of her shift she wanted to get home to her family and was shocked at what happened.’
Tests showed Owen had 68 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath – nearly double the legal limit of 35mg.
She was granted bail to attend court at a later date, but was arrested again on January 22 earlier this year when police were called to a McDonald’s drive-thru in Bury.
Officers responding to a report that she was fighting with her boyfriend discovered she had driven the car to the fast food restaurant with 53mg of alcohol in her system.
Owen was sentenced to eight months’ imprisonment at Minshull Street Crown Court in Manchester
Owen blamed her offending on having been diagnosed with PTSD as a result of a string of abusive relationships
She was bailed again after telling police she had been assaulted by her partner, but was arrested for a third time at around 4.25am in March 2, when officers spotted her speeding.
It emerged she had drunk a bottle of vodka, with tests showing she had 87mg of alcohol in her breath – more than twice the drink drive limit.
A quantity of cocaine was also found in the central console of the BMW.
Owen admitted three counts of drink driving and single counts of dangerous driving, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and failing to surrender to police.
She admitted drinking heavily in the run up to each incident, but denied knowledge of the cocaine.
Owen blamed her offending on having PTSD as a result of a string of abusive relationships.
Passing sentence, Judge Lawton said: ‘These were very serious offences. Police had been called because others were seriously concerned about an argument between you and your partner.
‘When they arrived it was obvious you were heavily under the influence of alcohol but despite that you said you were leaving the scene.
‘When PC Greenwood tried quite properly to get the keys to the car, you sought to drive away dragging her along the road. It was only when she managed to grab the steering wheel that you stopped.
‘PC Greenwood was entirely fearless as she did the best she could to prevent a drunk driver putting the public at risk and it must have been a terrifying experience for that officer who was dragged for 40 metres.
‘It is only by pure good fortune that she was not seriously injured or even killed.
‘No doubt this would have brought back memories of a certain more high profile case which involved a police officer dying. The courts need to protect the police and pass sentences to deter others.’
He continued: ‘You are of previous good character but it seems to me you have made very poor life choices in relationships – constantly gravitating from one abusive relationship to another. A report says you are now suffering from PTSD as a result of physical abuse.
‘But you are also a single mother of three children who are being cared for by relatives and why you chose to jeopardise their care, security and future in the manner you have, is beyond me.
‘You have put your priorities completely in the wrong order – focusing entirely on yourself. You are not the victim in all this – you are the perpetrator.’
Owen was jailed for eight months, banned from driving for three years and will have to sit an extended re-test. She will serve four months before being freed on licence.
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