Chester court to hear Rugeley man’s claim to keep licence

Neil Thompson, 39, of Burnthill Lane in Rugeley, appeared at the lower court to face four charges, but without legal representation. When the pleas were put to him, he tried to explain that he 'had been shown the dashcam footage by police' so that he was 'guilty'. However, chairman of the bench John Rooney asked him to reconsider whether he needed legal representation which Thompson declined, even after he watched the footage again via the CPS.

He then pleaded guilty to failing to stop after a road accident, failing to report the accident as a driver involved, driving without due care and attention and a further charge of being without an MOT certificate. The charges relate to an incident on the A55/A51 roundabout close to Vicars Cross on October 1 last year. OTHER NEWS:

Prosecutor Diana Przemecka told the court that the defendant, driving his van, tried to overtake a HGV but collided with it, causing damage to the front of the vehicle and the rear of his own. According to Ms Przemecka footage showed that the defendant continued on for a small distance before stopping, checking the damage and then got back into his van and drove off. When he was investigated by police, it was found his MOT had also expired at the time of the incident.

As he was unrepresented, Thompson was given the opportunity to give his version of events and he used that time to express a desire to keep his licence 'for his living' as he 'already had 12 points'. This was later to be confirmed to be nine points, but the decision was taken to adjourn the hearing to Thursday, May 22, to allow Thompson to prepare a case for an 'exceptional hardship application'. This was because he is likely to receive at least seven points on his licence for the October offences, which would take him past the mandatory ban level of 12.

Thompson was also advised in court to seek and confirm legal representation to present his case.