Subscribe to trusted local news
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.
20
Jun
‘He thinks he has ruined his life’: Man admits drink-driving in Ripon
The Stray Ferret spent the morning at Harrogate Magistrates Court on Thursday (June 19).
We sat through all of the cases, which included several driving-related offences.
You can find reports on three cases below.
Damian Lee-Judd, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to drink-driving.
Mel Ibbotson, prosecuting, told the court police were called to reports of a collision on the A61 north of Ripon at around 6pm on March 3.
Two cars were involved in the crash, including a Nissan driven by Lee-Judd that had gone into the back of a Citroën.
He claimed the car had "stopped suddenly" and he "did not have time to stop".
Officers suspected the 42-year-old defendant had been drinking and carried out a roadside breath test, which gave a positive reading.
Lee-Judd was taken to the police station, where officers took a blood sample.
Ms Ibbotson said the Crown Prosecution Service had not been provided with information as to why officers chose to take a blood sample rather than breath, but she assumed there had been an error with the breathalyser.
A blood sample recorded 135 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of Lee-Judd’s blood. The legal limit is 80 milligrams.
Andrew Tinning, defending, told the court the defendant’s driving licence has “always been clean”.
“He was quite emotional when he was discussing this with me – he thinks he has ruined his life”, the court heard.
Mr Tinning said Lee-Judd acknowledged he had been “extremely stupid” that day.
He added:
Mr Lee-Judd had been for a few drinks and went back to a caravan, where he was staying at the time. That was when he collided with the car in front of him.
Lee-Judd is “very remorseful for his actions”, Mr Tinning told the magistrates, but added there are “things going on in his life”.
The defendant’s wife left him for his best man and he has since sought counselling, the court heard.
He also struggles with ADHD.
Lee-Judd, who works for an events company and travels round the country for work, has not had a drink since the incident.
“He is upset and takes this very seriously”, Mr Tinning concluded.
The magistrates banned Lee-Judd from driving for 16 months, which would be reduced by 16 weeks if he completes a drink-drive course by a set date.
He was also ordered to pay a £230 fine, a £92 surcharge and £85 in prosecution costs.
Harrogate man, 20, sentenced for drink-driving
Zak Walker, of Hookstone Drive in Harrogate, pleaded guilty to drink-driving.
Mel Ibbotson, prosecuting, told the court police were on duty at around 3.30am on June 1.
Officers saw a car “driving erratically” on Oatlands Drive, before being stopped on St Hilda’s Road.
Police could smell alcohol on Walker when he opened the door.
The 20-year-old gave a positive roadside breath sample and was arrested.
The court heard Walker was fully compliant at the police station, where another breath sample recorded 53 micrograms of alcohol of 100 millilitres of his breath.
Walker is of previous good character.
Andrew Tinning, defending, told the court Walker “would say he was not driving erratically”.
The defendant claimed a police officer told him they "only stopped him due to the time of night”.
Mr Tinning said Walker, who had never been involved with the police before the incident, had been at home the evening before the offence.
He agreed to give friends a lift into town then decided to join them for a drink.
Walker drank two beers at the bar and believed he was in a fit state to drive home, the court heard.
Mr Tinning said the defendant, who works as a landscape gardener, “made a mistake on this occasion”.
A character reference from Walker’s employer was given to the magistrates. It was not read aloud in court, but Mr Tinning said his employer “speaks very highly of him”.
The chair of the magistrates’ bench told Walker: “this was obviously the wrong choice, wasn’t it?”.
He was disqualified from driving for 14 months, which would be reduced by 14 weeks if he completes a drink-drive course by a set date.
Walker was also ordered to pay a total of £471 to the court, comprising a £276 fine, a £110 surcharge and £85 in prosecution costs.
Harrogate man fined for driving without insurance
A man was fined for driving without insurance in a case heard at Harrogate Magistrates Court.
Malcolm Grange, of Bryony Road in Harrogate, pleaded not guilty to the offence, as well as driving without a valid test certificate, on August 28 last year.
A trial was held yesterday (June 19) but Grange did not attend and the offences were proved in his absence.
According to court documents, the 71-year-old defendant drove a Seat Leon on Montpellier Road without insurance on November 3, 2023.
He also drove the same vehicle on the same day without a valid test certificate.
Grange was ordered to pay a total of £1,854 to the court, comprising a £660 fine, a £264 surcharge and £930 in prosecution costs.
Six points were added to his driving record.
0