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01
Mar
Driver fined after falling asleep at the wheel near Harrogate
A man has been fined after falling asleep whilst driving in Nidd.
William Hattersley pleaded guilty to driving a car on a road or in a public place without due care and attention on January 28.
He appeared at Harrogate Magistrates Court on Friday (February 28) for sentencing.
A police officer’s witness statement recounting the incident was read to the court.
The statement said the officer was on duty when she received a report of a road traffic collision at 3am on June 26, 2024.
The court heard the crash happened on the B6165 Ripley Road in Nidd, near Harrogate, and a male was at the scene of the collision when the officer arrived.
Hattersley, of Lupton Walk, Sheffield, told the officer he was driving the transit van as he is a delivery driver and was working that night.
The statement added:
The male believed he had fallen asleep when driving and he woke up when the car crashed.
Hattersley admitted he had fallen asleep at the wheel when he was interviewed by police, the court heard.
The 29-year-old defendant, who was not legally represented in court, told the magistrates he has suffered with his mental health for a long time.
Hattersley said he wanted to work despite his mental health problems, adding he "did not want to feel useless".
He told the court:
I'm not a great people person, so I thought working at night in a van would be great.
I did not get enough sleep. I made a mistake.
It’s clear [the job] was not a good fit for me – I wrote the van off.
The magistrates ordered Hattersley to pay a total of £278. This comprised a £120 fine, a £48 surcharge and £110 in prosecution costs.
Eight points will be added to his driving licence.
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