Katie Brannen (pictured yesterday outside Newcastle Crown Court), 25, of South Shields, was accused of carrying out the sex attack on January 29, but the charges were dropped in October due to a lack of evidence
A woman who was cleared of raping a man has walked free from court again after getting into a row with a taxi driver and chasing him around his own cab.
Katie Brannen, 25, a transgender woman formerly known as Gavin, was accused of carrying out the sex attack on January 29, but the charges were dropped in October due to a lack of evidence.
News she had been cleared of rape could not be reported at the time, as she still faced charges of sexual assault, theft, damaging property and common assault in relation to a row with a taxi driver the day after the alleged rape.
But yesterday Brannen had four of them dropped, pleading guilty to a public order defence instead.
Newcastle Crown Court heard that she had refused to leave the man’s taxi outside the city’s Magic Flame takeaway on January 30.
The stand off-ended in Brannen, drunk and wearing high heels, chasing the driver around his car – in a ‘comical fashion’. Julie Clemitson, prosecuting, said: ‘It is apparent there was a dispute that took place inside the taxi.
‘That resulted in some reluctance on the part of Miss Brannen to get out.
‘She did get out. She got back in at some point and ultimately ended up, in an almost comical fashion, given that she was intoxicated and wearing high heels, chasing the taxi driver around his taxi.
News she (pictured) had been cleared of rape could not be reported at the time, as she still faced charges of sexual assault, theft, damaging property and common assault in relation to a row with a taxi driver the day after the alleged rape
‘There was some sort of physical contact. What took place was largely ineffectual.’
Judge Paul Sloan QC sentenced Brannen to a 12-month conditional discharge and £100 in costs.
During the run-up to her court proceedings she spent three months either in prison – or on an electronic tag – the equivalent of a six-month custodial sentence.
But yesterday, Brannen, who used to go by the name Gavin, had four of them dropped, pleading guilty to a public order defence instead
Gavin Doig, defending, said: ‘Miss Brannen must stop getting herself intoxicated and coming into dispute with people in the street or in taxis.
‘This was an unfortunate incident. She has already served more than the maximum.’
The judge said: ‘At a time when you were in drink you became involved in an unpleasant altercation with a taxi driver.
‘In reality, you have served a very significant custodial sentence, indeed a longer sentence than would normally have been imposed for this offence.’
Brannen, of South Shields, has a string of previous convictions for over 40 offences, including being drunk and disorderly and making off without a payment.
In the last few years she has been in and out of Magistrates courts after refusing to pay taxi bills of £20 to £30.
The court heard Brannen has previous convictions for 42 offences including public order, being drunk and disorderly and making off without payment.