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23
May
Knaresborough driver who crashed whilst unfit through codeine banned
A Knaresborough man who crashed into a metal barrier was banned from driving yesterday (May 22).
James Huckerby, of Stockwell Drive, pleaded guilty to failing to stop after a road accident and driving whilst unfit due to drugs on April 26.
The case was adjourned until May 22 for a pre-sentence report to be prepared. The report was not read out in court.
Mel Ibbotson, prosecuting, told the court a member of the public contacted the police at around 7.30pm on June 4 last year.
The unnamed man was at his home on Skipton Road in Harrogate at the time, when he “heard a loud bang”.
He thought this was the sound of a car crashing.
The court heard the man saw a car that had come to a stop on the road after colliding with a metal barrier.
He could see the driver (Huckerby) was unsteady on his feet and staggering around, so the man thought Huckerby was drunk.
The man also noticed Huckerby’s car was damaged and one of his tyres was flat.
Ms Ibbotson said:
The man told the defendant he was going inside to get his wife, but the defendant got back in his car and drove away whilst his car was still damaged.
When police caught up with Huckerby, one officer reported he was “leaning against his car with the keys still in the ignition”.
The 37-year-old defendant was arrested. Police officers described him as “someone who appeared to be under the influence of drugs” at the station.
A blood sample was taken from Huckerby, which later recorded 14 micrograms of codeine in his blood. The reading did not exceed the drug-drive limit.
Huckerby has no previous convictions.
When asked if he had anything to tell the court about the offence or his pre-sentence report, Huckerby said:
Not really, no.
Huckerby was banned from driving for 24 months.
He was handed a 12-month community order, during which he must complete 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days.
The magistrates also ordered him to pay an £80 fine, £85 in prosecution costs and a £114 surcharge.
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