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22
Nov
Boroughbridge woman admits string of drug-driving charges
The Stray Ferret spent the morning at Harrogate Magistrates Court yesterday (November 21). We sat through a full morning of hearings, which included a drink-driving, a drug-driving and a possession of an offensive weapon case. You can read reports on three cases below.
Stacey Hinks, of Springfield Grove in Boroughbridge, pleaded guilty to a string of drug-driving offences.
Hinks, 33, was charged with three counts of driving a motor vehicle with a proportion of a specified controlled drug above the specified limit, and one charge of driving a vehicle otherwise than in accordance with a licence.
Ms Ibbotson told the court police officers noticed a car on York Road, Boroughbridge, on September 25 and believed the driver could be under the influence.
The officers stopped the car just after 10pm. The court heard officers immediately established Hinks’s driving licence had expired in 2022, after a previous disqualification in 2020.
Ms Ibbotson said the defendant then told police she had smoked cannabis three hours earlier and she was arrested.
At the police station, a blood test recorded 800 micrograms of benzoylecgonine – a cocaine breakdown product – in a litre of blood.
The blood test also showed 32 micrograms of cocaine in a litre of blood, and 3.5 micrograms of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in the same amount of blood.
The defence told the court Hinks is “known to the authorities”, and most of her previous offences have happened whilst under the influence of cocaine or alcohol.
The court heard the defendant has not had the opportunity to address her substance abuse, but this is “partly due to her own unwillingness”.
The defence also told the court Hinks takes accountability for her actions.
The magistrates adjourned the case for a pre-sentence report to be prepared. Hinks will be sentenced at Harrogate Magistrates Court on December 20.
Man pleads guilty to possessing an offensive weapon in Harrogate
Mel Ibbotson, prosecuting, told the court police were called to McDonald’s on Harrogate’s Oxford Street on November 4.
She said Adam Anderson, of Tunstall Place, was “waving a smashed bottle around” on the night of the incident.
When police found Anderson, 19, he was in an “extremely heightened state and was unpredictable”.
Ms Ibbotson told the court police got the defendant on the ground, adding:
He remained in a heightened state, but they found a glass bottle on him. At the police station, he said an incident had occurred. Mr Anderson had been at McDonald’s and the bottle was to antagonise another person.
He attempted to run away from McDonald’s and then smashed the bottle outside out of anger. He held it in his hand, but he said he did not intend to use it to cause harm.
He told police he understands why his actions could be deemed as threatening.
Brian Nuttney, defending, told the court Anderson was very remorseful.
“He is very ashamed of his actions and this is not something he has done before. He is very disappointed in himself", the court heard.
Anderson had been drinking at Mojo on Parliament Street before the incident occurred. Mr Nuttney said when police turned up, the defendant was trying to get an unopened bottle of beer out of his pocket, so it did not smash.
He told the court Anderson has “profound” ADHD, but his parents made the decision not to put him on medication when he was younger.
“It is clear this played a part in what happened here”, the court heard.
Mr Nuttney also said Anderson has a good job and is very well thought of at his workplace, he is of “positive character”, and he has made something of himself.
The case was adjourned whilst a pre-sentence report is prepared. Anderson will be sentenced on January 9, 2025.
Man admits drink-driving on A1M
Jamie Royall, of Regent Street in Kirklees, pleaded guilty to one count of driving a vehicle when alcohol level was above the limit.
Ms Ibbotson told the court traffic police officers were called to the scene of a collision on the A1M southbound at junction 47, near Allerton Park, at 5am on November 3.
She said Royall was standing at the side of the motorway after his Audi A3 had “crashed into the crash barrier”. His car was “extensively damaged”, the court heard.
Royall was arrested and a breathalyser test showed 52 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35 micrograms.
Andrew Tinning, defending, said Royall had been visiting a friend at university in the Jesmond area of Newcastle.
The court heard the friends had been for some food and drinks, but the defendant realised he had lost his phone. After looking for the phone for several hours, the friend went home, and Royall continued searching for it.
Mr Tinning told the court after some hours, the defendant gave up and “made the foolish decision to drive”. He said:
He said it was a misjudgement as it had been several hours since he stopped drinking.
There was some sort of puncture which caused the collision. The incident has had a real impact on Mr Royall and his car was written off. He was also co-operative with the police.
The magistrates ordered Royall to pay £634 in total. This comprises a £392 fine, a £157 surcharge and £85 in prosecution costs.
He was also disqualified from driving for 15 months. If Royall completes a drink-driving rehabilitation course, this will be reduced by 20 weeks.
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