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13
Dec
Banned driver avoids jail after being caught behind the wheel in Flaxby
The Stray Ferret spent the day at Harrogate Magistrates Court on Thursday (December 11).
We sat through a number of hearings, which included cases of driving while disqualified, wounding with intent and engaging in coercive and controlling behaviour.
You can read reports on cases below.
A man has avoided jail after being caught driving while disqualified in Flaxby.
Marc Webster, of Sorrel Close, Darlington, appeared before Harrogate Magistrates Court on Thursday, where he spoke to confirm his name, address and age.
Sarah Tyrer, prosecuting, said Webster, 37, was pulled over by police on the A59 at Flaxby in the early hours of June 16 this year.
Ms Tyrer said officers noticed that the BMW was insured for a “female only” and decided to stop the vehicle when they noticed a male was behind the wheel.
Webster, who pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified and driving without third party insurance, confessed to police that he was already banned from driving.
Ms Tyrer told the court that the 37-year-old was disqualified and handed a suspended sentence earlier this year.
Magistrates also heard that Webster had not complied with the requirements of his sentence, which included rehabilitation activity days and 100 hours of unpaid work — for which he had completed just one hour.
He was due to appear in court on December 9 for the breach, but did not attend.
Sean Wilson, defending, told the court that Webster suffered from depression and had a “rather difficult history”.
He said:
Mr Webster was unaware that he should have been in court on December 9. He had not received the letter. He only knew about today’s hearing when his partner found the letter.
He has a rather more than difficult history.
Mr Wilson said Webster had struggled with debt and was in rent arrears. He said a prison sentence would have an affect on his partner and children.
He urged magistrates to give him "one last chance" rather than sending him to custody.
Magistrates imposed an eight-week prison sentence suspended two years for driving while disqualified.
Webster was also ordered to undertake 25 hours of unpaid work for the offence.
Magistrates also disqualified Webster from driving for a further 12 months, meaning he will serve a 55 month ban.
For breaching his original suspended sentence, he had his original sentence extended for six months and ordered to complete the rehabilitation activity days and 99 hours of unpaid work in full.
Man denies wounding with intent
A man has denied wounding with intent in Knaresborough.
James Blundell, 54, of The Promenade in Southport, appeared before Harrogate Magistrates Court where he pleaded not guilty to the charge which is alleged to have happened on November 24 last year.
The charge alleges that the 54-year-old “unlawfully and maliciously wounded” the named victim in Knaresborough.
Mr Blundell spoke in court to confirm his name, age and address.
Magistrates adjourned the case to York Crown Court, where he will appear on January 12, 2026.
Man denies assault and engaging in controlling and coercive behaviour.
A Harrogate man has denied assault and engaging in controlling and coercive behaviour.
David Lomax, 48, appeared before Harrogate Magistrates Court where he spoke to confirm his name, age and address.
Mr Lomax pleaded not guilty to assault, which was alleged to have happened against a named victim on July 19 this year.
He also denied a separate charge of engaging in controlling and coercive behaviour against the same victim between January 1, 2016, and July 20, 2024.
Magistrates adjourned his case to York Crown Court, where he will appear on January 12, 2026.
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