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19
Apr
Pateley Bridge woman who drove whilst disqualified ‘struggles with impulsive behaviour’, court hears
A woman appeared at Harrogate Magistrates Court charged with two driving-related offences on Thursday (April 16).
Chloe Middleton, of Wath Road in Wath – near Pateley Bridge – pleaded guilty to driving whilst disqualified and driving a car without insurance.
Mel Ibbotson, prosecuting, told the court police were made aware of a car that had been stolen from an address in Pateley Bridge on March 28 this year.
The stolen car was travelling towards Harrogate.
The court heard police officers received the registration details of the car, which they later saw driving on Skipton Road in Harrogate.
Officers followed the car until it came to a stop on Chatsworth Grove, where it was reversing into a parking space.
The 35-year-old defendant, who was the only occupant, was driving the car and was initially arrested for theft of a motor vehicle.
Middleton told police the car belonged to a family member, Ms Ibbotson said.
The defendant had been banned from driving for 14 months on February 27 this year, which Middleton told officers she was aware of at the time of the offence.
The family member had reported the stolen car to police but did not want to make a further complaint after the defendant had been arrested.
Ms Ibbotson told the court:
The defendant admitted the offences to the police and said she took [the family member’s] car. She also said she was aware of the disqualification.
The defendant said she knew it had upset her [family member].
There was no evidence of bad driving, the court heard.
Defendant ‘struggles with self-control’
Sean Wilson, defending, requested the case be stood down for a pre-sentence report to be prepared.
He did not offer any mitigation at that stage of the hearing.
A probation officer gave an oral report to the court.
She said Middleton has “struggled with impulsive behaviour and self-control for a while” and realises the impact this is having.
The court heard Middleton was “having a nice time” with the family member, who had cooked Middleton dinner, but she “suddenly decided she needed to get some drugs that night”.
That was when the defendant took the car.
The probation officer added:
The defendant thinks her behaviour could be due to undiagnosed ADHD, but she has been on the waiting list for an assessment since 2020.
She acknowledges her behaviour and what she did was wrong – she is very remorseful.
The court heard Middleton struggles with substance misuse, as well as anxiety and depression.
“She is quite scared of her own behaviour”, the office said.
They added:
This is because her boyfriend drowned and died a few years ago. Her best friend then died shortly after.
‘It was like the devil had got her’
Mr Wilson, defending, later said Middleton’s substance use "depends on how she is feeling”.
He told the court:
Despite Ms Middleton having a good day with her [family member], it was like the devil had got her and that’s why she took their car and drove.
She said this is like a slap in the face and a wake-up call. She knows she needs to sort things out.
The magistrates sentenced Middleton to a 12-month community order.
She must complete 20 rehabilitation activity days and a 120-day alcohol abstinence monitoring requirement.
Middleton was banned from driving for nine months, which is in addition to her existing ban.
She was also ordered to pay a £114 surcharge and £85 in prosecution costs.
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