Subscribe to trusted local news
If you are accessing this story via Facebook but you are a subscriber then you will be unable to access the story. Facebook wants you to stay and read in the app and your login details are not shared with Facebook. If you experience problems with accessing the news but have subscribed, please contact subscriptions@thestrayferret.co.uk. In a time of both misinformation and too much information, quality journalism is more crucial than ever. By subscribing, you can help us get the story right.
- Subscription costs less than £1 a week with an annual plan.
Already a subscriber? Log in here.
26
Jun
Elite paratrooper ‘deliberately delayed’ Harrogate police after drink-driving
An elite paratrooper who was due for a promotion in the British army “deliberately delayed” Harrogate police officers after being caught drink-driving.
Andrew Davies, 26, appeared before Harrogate Magistrates Court on Thursday (June 25) where he spoke to confirm his name, date of birth and address.
Davies, who completed his training at Harrogate Army Foundation College but is currently based at Catterick, admitted one count of failing to provide a specimen at Harrogate Police Station on June 7 this year.
Sarah Tyrer, prosecuting, told magistrates that police were on patrol in the Catterick Garrison area at 4.30am and had been ordered to keep a lookout for a black BMW which had been reported to have been driving on the wrong side of the road.
Police spotted the BMW, which Davies was driving, and pulled it over, the court heard.
Harrogate Army Foundation College.
Ms Tyrer said Davies gave a “half hearted” attempt on the breathalyser and was subsequently arrested for failing to provide a breath test to officers.
The 26-year-old was taken to Harrogate Police Station, where the prosecution said his behaviour continued during the booking in procedure.
Ms Tyrer said:
[Named officer] carried out the booking procedure. He said it was apparent that he [Davies] was drunk. He was unsteady on his feet and had a smug grin on his face.
It was also apparent that he was taking any step he could to delay the booking in procedure.
The prosecutor added that Davies was asking when he could have a shower or eat and would take a long time to answer questions or not answer them at all.
Officers then said that the defendant “walked slowly” to the testing room, where he was due to give a sample of breath for analysis.
Ms Tyrer said:
He appeared to be delaying the process. It took over 20 minutes to go to the intoxilyzer machine. The officer said he had seen enough and charged him with failing to provide a specimen.
The prosecution said the behaviour amounted to a deliberate refusal to provide a specimen.
‘He is one of the best soldiers we have’
Peter Minnikin, defending, said Davies pleaded guilty to the charge at the first opportunity.
Mr Minnikin said Davies had bumped into a friend on the night of the incident, where he went for a few drinks and made the mistake of getting into his car.
He added that he had not deliberately refused to take a sample and had tried to give one on the roadside.
"When he has a drink, he seems to make bad decision," the defence said.
Mr Minnikin said the whole process was already delayed because it took two hours from his arrest until he arrived at Harrogate Police Station, where he tried to give another sample.
He said:
The police have already delayed this. This not a deliberate refusal. He makes an attempt [to give a sample] but the machine does not read it.
The court heard that Davies has spent the last 10 years in the army and serves in the parachute regiment, where he is considered one of the country’s elite paratroopers.
Magistrates were told that the paratrooper had been demoted in rank in 2024 after being convicted of a separate driving offence, but had worked his way back up in the last two years.
Mr Minnikin said Davies was on the radar of the pathfinders, which are specialised soldiers who operate on larger military operations.
However, he said he would now be punished by the military and lose his promotion. He could also be “dishonourably discharged”, the court heard.
Mr Minnikin said:
He will have a promotion ban and may well be fined and punished in other ways. He is going to get punished again.
He is completely remorseful and understands the ramifications of his actions. He is one of the best soldiers we have.
Davies addressed magistrates in court before they retired for sentence.
He told them he made a mistake and apologised for his actions on the night of the offence.
Davies said:
I panicked and I apologise. As a paratrooper, we are taught not to panic. But, in this case I panicked and made a silly decision.
Magistrates fined Davies £769 and ordered him to pay a victims’ surcharge of £308 and court costs of £85.
He was also banned from driving for 14 months.
0