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20
Dec
Harrogate man caught drink-driving after livestreaming himself drinking on TikTok
A Harrogate man who livestreamed himself drinking and getting into a car has been sentenced.
Anthony Crawford, 32, appeared at Harrogate Magistrates Court yesterday (December 18) charged with three offences: drink-driving, driving without a licence and driving without insurance.
He admitted all the charges.
Mel Ibbotson, prosecuting, told the court North Yorkshire Police received a call from Derbyshire Constabulary on November 28.
Derbyshire police told local officers they had received a report from a member of the public, who said Crawford had been “streaming live on TikTok and shown to be drinking and going to a shop in his car”.
North Yorkshire Police carried out checks and went to the shop in question, before going to Crawford’s home around half a mile from the store.
The court heard police saw a car pull in at the address and, when officers approached it, found Crawford was the only occupant.
They told Crawford, of Harewood Road, they had been passed information that he had been drinking and the defendant was arrested.
A breath sample taken at Harrogate Police Station recorded 61 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath – almost twice the legal limit of 35 micrograms.
Ms Ibbotson said further police checks also revealed Crawford only held a provisional driving licence and was therefore not insured to drive the vehicle.
Defendant ‘can’t really explain’ actions
Andrew Coleman, defending, told the court Crawford showed “genuine remorse” and felt ashamed of his actions.
Crawford has been before the courts previously, but the offences were dissimilar to the drink-driving charge.
Mr Coleman said his previous convictions, which date back to the mid-2010s, came about due to “people he was around at the time”.
“He says he can’t believe he is back before the courts”, Mr Coleman added.
The defence said:
Mr Crawford was brought up in the care system and is not in contact with his parents. This had an impact on his [previous] convictions but he has been out of trouble since.
Crawford struggles with mental health, but Mr Coleman said the defendant “can’t really explain what he did and [he says he] made a silly mistake”.
The car belonged to Crawford and he had been receiving driving lessons from a friend who was a licensed driver, but he no longer has the vehicle.
The magistrates banned Crawford from driving for 17 months, which would be reduced by 17 weeks if he completes a drink-drive awareness course by a set date.
He was also ordered to pay a total of £281, comprising a £140 fine, a £56 surcharge and £85 in prosecution costs.
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