Five bad drivers in North Staffordshire magistrates

Here are the latest cases from the region's courts: NEWCASTLE: Drink-driver Bradley Woolridge has been banned from the roads for 12 months. The 21-year-old was stopped driving a Ford Transit after pulling into the Shell garage, on Talke Road, in Newcastle[1], at 12.30am on October 20.

Prosecutor Shakeel Ahmed told North Staffordshire Justice Centre[2]: "He was spoken to. He smelt of alcohol. A roadside breath test was positive.

He was taken to a police station where he provided a reading of 57 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, against the legal limit of 35." Woolridge, of Church Lane, Coven, pleaded guilty to drink-driving. Representing himself, Woolridge said: "I want to apologise.

I was the designated driver. I was bought a drink. I asked for a small amount.

I got poured a bigger amount. I was unaware I was over the limit." Magistrates fined Woolridge GBP120 and ordered him to pay GBP85 costs and a GBP48 surcharge.

His ban will be reduced by 13 weeks if he completes a drink-drivers' rehabilitation course. BENTILEE: Drink-driver Lee Shore has successfully applied to get his licence back early. The 38-year-old, of Thornhill Road, Bentilee[3], was disqualified for drink-driving in 2017 and received a 21-month ban.

He was convicted of the same offence in 2021 and sentenced in March 2022 to a three-year disqualification. But the groundworker told North Staffordshire Justice Centre[4] he has put himself on an alcohol tag which runs until January 10 and no longer drinks. Shore said: "I do not drink anymore as when I do I get into trouble.

I just want a chance to turn my life around and prove to everybody that I have changed. That is all I want." He added that having his licence back would help him get to and from work.

Offenders who receive lengthy driving bans can apply to have their licence back after serving half the ban or at the two -year stage. Magistrates agreed to grant the order and Shore can now apply to the DVLA to have his licence back. KIDSGROVE: Fifty-four-year-old Andrew Chapman has been banned from the roads for 17 months after he was caught drink-driving.

North Staffordshire Justice Centre heard Chapman was stopped by police on Glebe Street, in Kidsgrove[5], at 11.30pm on October 26. Prosecutor Suzanne Swindail said: "Police observed the defendant's vehicle outside the Clough Hall public house. They saw the defendant get in the vehicle and drive off.

They had reason to be believe he had been drinking. They pulled him over on Glebe Street outside the Corner Pin pub. He admitted drinking alcohol earlier.

Police said he smelt of alcohol. A breath test was requested. It provided a positive result.

He was taken to custody and an evidential reading gave a sample of 61 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, against the legal limit of 35." Chapman, of First Avenue, Butt Lane, pleaded guilty to drink-driving. Representing himself, Chapman said: "I admit I did drink and drive and I apologise for that.

I dropped my mate off. I was working in the pub all day. I did have two pints and then I went shopping.

I went back to see my mate, to see if he was ok. I dropped him off. He could not walk, he was a right mess.

I have never done it before." Chapman added that he is a self-employed painter and decorator and the loss of his licence will cause him a lot of problems. Magistrates fined Chapman GBP440 and ordered him to pay GBP85 costs and a GBP176 surcharge.

His ban will be reduced by 17 weeks if he completes a drink-drivers' rehabilitation course. NEWCASTLE: Drug-driver Adam Ginders has been banned from the roads for 38 months. North Staffordshire Justice Centre heard the 35-year-old was seen driving a Vauxhall Combo van erratically on the A34 Talke Road, in Newcastle[6], at 2am on April 28.

Prosecutor Suzanne Swindail said: "It was swerving between lanes without using indicators. It was going too close to the kerb. The police requested for him to stop.

The officer's view was that he did not notice the blue lights. After a time he had to stop and was requested to exit the vehicle. He refused to exit.

He opened the window and asked officers to complete the breath test through the window. Police removed him from the vehicle. He appeared to be under the influence.

He was arrested and taken to custody. Monkey dust was found in his blood." Ginders, of Main Road, Croxton, pleaded guilty to drug-driving.

The court heard he has a similar conviction from July 2024. Colin Drew, mitigating, said Ginders has a mental health difficulty and requires regular injections from his doctor. Mr Drew added: "He has been diagnosed with psychosis.

That explains some of the bizarre utterances he made to the police at the time. He tells me that following this he has not touched monkey dust." Mr Drew added that there was no accident and Ginders was not trying to escape from the police.

Magistrates fined Ginders GBP120 and ordered him to pay GBP85 costs and a GBP48 surcharge. NEWCASTLE: Twenty-nine-year-old Dean Culverwell has been banned from the roads for 32 months after he failed to provide a specimen for analysis. Prosecutor Suzanne Swindail told North Staffordshire Justice Centre police were made aware of a vehicle parked in the car park of Grosvenor Casino, in Hanley.

She said: "A CCTV operator believed the driver was under the influence. The Ford Galaxy was seen exiting the car park and driving on Etruria Road towards Festival Park[7]. It came to a temporary stop at a red light.

It went through a red light when turning into Tesco Hanley[8]. Police drove on to Tesco and saw a man. The vehicle was located in a bush in the car park.

"Police spoke to the man. The defendant was showing as the registered keeper and was insured to drive the vehicle. The defendant was asked to provide a specimen of breath at the roadside but he did not do so.

His eyes were glazed and his speech slurred. There was a smell of intoxicating liquor. He was arrested and taken to custody.

Police attempted to obtain a sample from him. He was asked on numerous occasions to go into the room to provide a sample. He refused on numerous occasions.

He was warned if he failed to provide he would be liable to prosecution. It was a deliberate refusal." Culverwell, of Linden Close, Newcastle[9], admitted failing to provide a specimen of breath for analysis.

Sarah Bedford, mitigating, said self-employed electrician Culverwell had wanted to speak to a solicitor. Miss Bedford added: "There is some issue with alcohol. Otherwise he is a pleasant, hard-working young man.

He is very sorry." Magistrates sentenced Culverwell to a 12-month community order with a 15-day rehabilitation activity requirement. He was fined GBP120 and ordered to pay GBP85 costs and a GBP114 surcharge.

His ban will be reduced by 32 weeks if he completes a drink-drivers' rehabilitation course.

Get all the latest news from court here[10]

References

1. ^ Newcastle (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
2. ^ North Staffordshire Justice Centre (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
3. ^ Bentilee (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
4. ^ North Staffordshire Justice Centre (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
5. ^ Kidsgrove (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
6. ^ Newcastle (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
7. ^ Festival Park (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
8. ^ Hanley (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
9. ^ Newcastle (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
10. ^ Get all the latest news from court here (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)