Names of five drivers given sobering experience in court this week
Here are the latest cases from the region’s courts:
STOKE:
Banned driver Mark Smith was caught after police carried out a check and discovered his car was uninsured. The 51-year-old was stopped by police in Lonsdale Street, Stoke[1], at 2.30am on March 31 as he drove in the direction of the crossroads with the A500[2].
Prosecutor Lee Stone told North Staffordshire Justice Centre[3]: “They found the defendant was driving. It was stopped because the Police National Computer (PNC) showed there was no insurance on the vehicle. Police checked the details and he was found to be disqualified until August 2023. He was arrested.”
The court heard Smith was banned for a drug-driving offence in May 2022. Smith, of Hoyle Crescent, Cumnock, Ayrshire, pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified and driving without insurance.
Representing himself Smith said he was not aware he was still disqualified. He said: “It was not deliberate.”
He added he has recently started a new job. Magistrates disqualified Smith from driving for three months. He was fined £461 and ordered to pay £135 costs and a £184 surcharge.
READ: Bungling burglar leaves DNA on door as Airbnb crime spree comes crashing down[4]
HANLEY:
Motorist John Geevarghese failed to provide a specimen of breath after police found him slumped over the wheel. Prosecutor Suzanne Swindail told North Staffordshire Justice Centre[5] police were called to Borough Road, Newcastle[6], at 12.15am on July 17 by members of the public who witnessed a man slumped over the wheel of a car.
Miss Swindail said: “Police attended and found the man who appeared to be asleep. He seemed to be in drink. They requested he provide a sample of breath at the roadside. He failed to do so.
“He was taken to custody. At the station he appeared to be blowing at the tube instead of in the tube. No medical reason was given for the failure to provide. It was a deliberate failure. Police said he was blowing at the tube, rather than in the tube.”
Geevarghese, aged 30, of Clayworks, Leonard Coates Way, Hanley[7], pleaded guilty to failing to provide a specimen of breath for analysis when in charge of a vehicle.
Representing himself, Geevarghese said: “It is the first time. I had been drinking.”
Magistrates fined Geevarghese £276 and ordered him to pay £135 costs and a £110 surcharge. They handed him 10 penalty points on his licence.
OAKHILL:
Businessman Matthew Evans was caught behind the wheel of his Range Rover when more than two-and-a-half times the legal limit. The 41-year-old was seen in the vehicle in Thistley Hough Road, Penkhull[8], by a dog walker at 5.30am on July 15.
Prosecutor Suzanne Swindail told North Staffordshire Justice Centre[9]: “He was there for 20 minutes with the engine running. The dog walker repeatedly tried to raise him by banging on the window. He was stirring slightly but would not wake.
“It was believed to be a medical episode. An ambulance attended. It was clear he was under the influence of alcohol.
“Police attended and he was identified. He was arrested and taken to custody.”
At custody Evans was breathalysed and gave a reading of 93 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, against the legal limit of 35.
Andrea Wilkes, mitigating, said Evans is a director of a company and employs 17 staff. He works long hours and left work at 11pm on the day in question. He went to the Rigger pub in Newcastle[10] and planned to get a taxi home.
Miss Wilkes said: “He accepts he had consumed alcohol. He made the foolish decision to drive his vehicle. He felt fine.
“There was nobody else in the vehicle. He was not involved in an accident.
“He felt impaired while driving home. He stopped the vehicle. He thought he would get his head down for a few hours.
“He thought he had turned the engine off. It kept coming on.”
Miss Wilkes added Evans recognises he will be banned from driving and it will impact on his family.
Magistrates disqualified Evans from driving for two years. He was fined £1,000 and ordered to pay £135 costs and a £400 surcharge.
His ban will be reduced by 24 weeks if he completes a drink-drivers’ rehabilitation course.
LONGTON:
Drink-driver Sai Kadire has been banned from the roads for 18 months. Prosecutor Suzanne Swindail told North Staffordshire Justice Centre[11] police stopped Kadire’s Fiat Punto at Tesco, Hanley[12], due to the manner of driving at 4.35am on July 16.
Miss Swindail said: “He was swerving in the road. He was spoken to and he provided a sample of breath at the roadside which proved to be a positive result. He was arrested and taken to custody. He gave a reading of 66 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, against the legal limit of 35.”
Kadire, aged 33, of Cromartie Street, Longton[13], pleaded guilty to drink-driving.
Andrea Wilkes, mitigating, said Kadire is an Indian national who came to the UK in 2020. He was allowed to use an international licence and has no endorsements in India.
He was going through a difficult period as his sister has needed a kidney transplant and has been extremely unwell. Miss Wilkes said: “He is not normally somebody who drinks alcohol. He was unable to sleep and he thought it would help him to sleep. It did the opposite. He had not slept for more than 24 hours. He decided to go for a drive. He was out for the drive when the police stopped him. It was a miscalculation.
“He is really disappointed with himself. He regrets his actions. He is genuinely remorseful.”
She added Kadire works from home in the IT industry and should keep his job.
Magistrates fined Kadire £415 and ordered him to pay £135 costs and a £166 surcharge. His ban will be reduced by 18 weeks if he completes a drink-driver’s rehabilitation course.
STAFFORD:
Latvian Elina Makuha has been banned from the roads for 16 months after she failed to provide a sample of breath for analysis. North Staffordshire Justice Centre heard police pulled over Makuha’s car on the A34 Stone Road, Stafford[14], at 8.50am on July 14.
Prosecutor Suzanne Swindail said: “She was struggling to drive in straight lines and was stopped. She went to drive off as officers approached. She was removed from the vehicle.
“Police required a specimen of breath. She failed to provide and was arrested. She was taken to custody. She was again asked to provide a sample of breath and again she failed to do so.
“She appeared to be blowing in the machine but no breath appeared to be going in. No medical reason was given for failing to provide a sample of breath. She was adamant she was blowing in the machine. The Crown say it was a deliberate failure.”
Makuha, aged 33, of Tennyson Road, Highfields, Stafford, pleaded guilty to failing to provide a specimen of breath for analysis.
Andrea Wilkes, mitigating, said Makuha was on her way to her workplace in Stone when she was stopped. She had a bottle of wine at home the night before. She went to sleep, got up and felt able to drive.
Miss Wilkes said: “She genuinely thought she was being asked to move over so the police could get past her. She was surprised when they asked her to provide a sample of breath. She has not been in that position before. She does have a nervous disposition.
“She was very scared of the officers. She started to panic, so much so they transported her to hospital.
“She was taken to the police station. She will say she did attempt to blow. It was not a deliberate refusal.”
Magistrates fined Makuha £369 and ordered her to pay £135 costs and a £148 surcharge. Her ban will be reduced by 16 weeks if she completes a drink-drivers’ rehabilitation course.
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References
- ^ Stoke (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
- ^ the A500 (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
- ^ North Staffordshire Justice Centre (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
- ^ Bungling burglar leaves DNA on door as Airbnb crime spree comes crashing down (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
- ^ North Staffordshire Justice Centre (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
- ^ Newcastle (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
- ^ Hanley (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
- ^ Penkhull (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
- ^ North Staffordshire Justice Centre (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
- ^ Newcastle (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
- ^ North Staffordshire Justice Centre (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
- ^ Hanley (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
- ^ Longton (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
- ^ Stafford (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
- ^ COURT AND CRIME NEWSLETTER: Sign up for email alerts direct to your inbox (data.reachplc.com)