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21
Aug
Ripon man drove into school wall after ‘blacking out’
A man has been found guilty of driving without due care and failing to stop after an accident.
Michael Jackson, 42, pleaded guilty at Harrogate Magistrates Court on Thursday (August 20).
He received seven points on his driving licence and was fined £891.
Jackson, who was listed on court papers as living at Laver Way in Ripon but said in court he now lives in Leeds, claimed he blacked out during the crash due to a medical incident.
At around 9pm on February 13, Jackson drove down Bishopton, in Ripon, and crashed into the back of a car, causing £3,740 worth of damage.
He failed to stop, instead reversing and driving away.
The prosecution said:
He sped away and did a 90 degree turn into Bishopgate, where he lost it and went into the wall of Outwood Academy.
The car's airbags were deployed, and Jackson abandoned the vehicle and walked home.
When police traced the car back to him a short while later, an officer thought he smelt alcohol on his breath – although blood tests didn’t confirm the presence of alcohol.
Jackson’s defence said he "has bowel issues" and "experienced involuntary discharge which led to a moment of blackout".
The plasterer, who is self-employed because of his medical issues, was on his way home from work when the collision happened.
Jackson knew the person he had crashed into, offered to pay £4,000 for the damage and the pair made a signed agreement.
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