Granddaughter of former law chief Lord Hailsham is spared jail over car knife fury 

Granddaughter of former law chief Lord Hailsham is spared jail over car knife fury

  • Kate Smith stopped her vehicle after seeing Katharine Koops being restrained  
  • Instead of thanking Miss Smith, Koops brandished 7in knife and threatened her
  • She was yesterday spared jail in a virtual hearing at Lewes Crown Court

The granddaughter of former top Tory Lord Hailsham jumped on to the bonnet of a car and stabbed a knife at the windscreen in front of the terrified driver, a court heard. 

Good Samaritan Kate Smith had stopped her vehicle after seeing Katharine Koops, 31, being restrained by a man at the side of the road. 

Instead of thanking Miss Smith, Koops brandished the 7in kitchen knife and threatened her. 

Fearing for the safety of herself and her 14-year-old daughter, Miss Smith tried to drive off. 

But Koops, a former pupil of £40,000-a-year Benenden School, jumped onto the bonnet of her car and began stabbing at the windscreen. 

Good Samaritan Kate Smith had stopped her vehicle after seeing Katharine Koops, 31, being restrained by a man at the side of the road. Instead of thanking Miss Smith, Koops (pictured) brandished the 7in kitchen knife and threatened her

Miss Smith drove off slowly and Koops slid off the bonnet without injury. Koops, of Ashdown Forest, East Sussex, later brandished the knife at a medical centre. 

She was yesterday spared jail in a virtual hearing at Lewes Crown Court. 

Instead she was handed a four month suspended sentence and ordered to get help for mental health problems. 

Pictured is former top Tory Lord Hailsham

Pictured is former top Tory Lord Hailsham

Koops had pleaded guilty to affray and possessing a bladed article in public. 

She could have faced up to two years and nine months in jail. 

Koops’ grandfather was Lord Hailsham, former Lord Chancellor and Tory Party chairman, who died in 2001. 

The court heard Miss Smith had been driving to the family home in Ashdown Forest. 

She spotted Koops being restrained and pulled over to see if she needed help. But Koops told her: ‘Why does everyone have to get involved? Go away, all of you!’ 

Another older woman, who was with Koops, told Miss Smith: ‘Don’t worry. She’s with us.’ 

Miss Smith said: ‘That’s fine. I just wanted to check you were OK.’ 

She walked towards her parked car but Koops, who was walking in front, turned round and said: ‘Why did you have to get involved? **** off!’ 

As Miss Smith went to get into her car Koops reached into her handbag and pulled out the knife and held it close to her face. 

When she tried to drive away, Koops jumped onto the bonnet. 

Katharine Koops, 31, was spared jail in a virtual hearing at Lewes Crown Court (pictured)

Katharine Koops, 31, was spared jail in a virtual hearing at Lewes Crown Court (pictured)

Ryan Richter prosecuting, said: ‘Miss Koops used the knife to start stabbing at the windscreen. Miss Smith felt she had to take action and drove the vehicle at a slow speed to try to encourage the defendant to get off. 

‘There was some verbal exchanges but after a short period of time the defendant slid off.’ 

He said Koops then made her way to Ashdown Medical Centre and requested medicine. When there was a delay she held the knife to her wrist. 

The court heard she has a string of previous convictions, including assaulting a police officer, criminal damage and public order offences. 

Sentencing, Judge Jeremy Gold QC said it was imperative that Koops should seek help for her mental health condition.