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25
Jan
Ripon man charged with being in charge of a vehicle when drunk ‘intended to sleep’ in van
A Ripon man who was charged with being in charge of a vehicle when he was drunk “intended to sleep” in his van, a court heard.
Christopher Larder, 46, admitted one offence of being in charge of a motor vehicle when he was over the legal limit during a hearing at Harrogate Magistrates Court on Thursday (January 22).
Juwairiyyah Aurangzeb, prosecuting, told the court police were asked to locate a specific van after receiving information on the evening of December 27 last year.
At around 10.20pm, officers located the van in a lay-by near Ripon Walled Garden on A6108 Palace Road.
The van’s front lights were on and a person was sitting in the driver’s seat.
The court heard when police searched the van, they found the ignition was on and the radio was playing.
An officer escorted Larder, who was the only occupant of the vehicle, to the police van and could “smell alcohol on him”.
Larder was arrested and recorded 88 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath at the police station. The legal limit is 35 micrograms.
Ms Aurangzeb said the Crown Prosecution Service believed there was a “high likelihood of the defendant driving” as the ignition was on.
Defendant has had a tough four years, defence says
Sean Wilson, defending, told the court Larder has been going through a “very hard time over the last four years, including an acrimonious divorce".
Mr Wilson said Larder, of North Lees, saw a photo that particularly upset him that evening. On top of the struggles he has faced over recent years - which were detailed in court – Mr Wilson said the photo made Larder feel like “someone was standing on his neck”.
After becoming distressed that night, the defendant decided to park in the lay-by and “intended to sleep” in his van rather than going home.
The ignition was on as it was cold outside, Mr Wilson added.
The court heard a driving ban would put Larder, who was visibly upset in court, in "considerable difficulty".
Passing sentence, the chair of the magistrates’ bench said:
We have taken this undue hardship that a ban would add to your life and have decided to give you penalty points.
Ten points were added to Larder’s licence and he was ordered to pay a total of £652 to the court.
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