Police officer admits to 'unlawfully arresting' Dawn Ward for drunk and disorderly behaviour, court hears

A police officer admitted he 'unlawfully arrested' Real Housewives of Cheshire star Dawn Ward for drunk and disorderly behaviour after a Jewish man accused her of assaulting him.

Ward, who is married to ex-Premier League footballer Ashley Ward, allegedly hurled abuse at Jewish brothers Jake and Sam Jacobs at London Euston back in October 2019. The 48-year-old is said to have shouted: “Why are you lot always complaining?” before calling the men "Jewish c***s".

The court heard Ward also called Jake's girlfriend Samantha Eisner, who told jurors her grandfather was an Auschwitz survivor, a "little disease". Inner London Crown Court, sitting at the Royal Courts of Justice, heard Ward then slapped Jake Jacobs with an "open palm".

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She denies two counts of racially aggravated harassment, one count of assault and possession of cocaine. Giving evidence today, British Transport Police officer James Springhall admitted he was still in training when he was called to the incident at Euston and had not arrested "many" suspects before.

The court heard Mr Springhall took Ward from Euston’s concourse to a police suite and "wrongly" arrested her for drunk and disorderly behaviour. Lisa Judge, defending Ward, said: "There's an unlawful arrest. She's sitting in a room, she is repeatedly telling you she has not done it. At what point did you realise you had made an unlawful arrest?" Mr Springhall replied: "A short time after."

Ms Judge continued: "You obviously appreciated what you had done was wrong, so you de-arrested her. For a period of time she remained in handcuffs - she shouldn't have been in handcuffs should she?" Mr Springhall said: "No."