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10
Oct
Police closed part of A1(M) after drink-driver crashed into central reservation
Police were forced to close a section of the A1(M) after a drink-driver crashed into the central reservation and abandoned his car.
Richard Greatorex appeared at Harrogate Magistrates Court this morning (October 9), when he pleaded guilty to drink-driving, failing to stop after a road accident, causing a vehicle to be left in a dangerous position and failing to report an accident.
Kaye Barnard, prosecuting, told the court Greatorex’s car collided with the central reservation at junction 47 of the A1(M), near Knaresborough, at around 8.15pm on September 21.
After the collision, Greatorex abandoned the car in lane two on the motorway, as well as a passenger who had been in the car with him at the time of the crash.
Police were called and officers were forced to close a section of the A1(M) whilst they dealt with the collision.
Ms Barnard said Greatorex, of Manor Crescent in Grimethrope, Barnsley, was found half a mile away from the vehicle.
A breath test later recorded 65 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath – almost twice the legal limit of 35 micrograms – and he later admitted the offence to police.
Greatorex has 14 previous convictions, including convictions for drink-driving, but he has not been before the courts since 2011.
Defendant swigged vodka to ease a panic attack
Ismael Uddin, defending, requested the case be temporarily stood down for a pre-sentence report to be prepared.
When the case resumed, Andrew Watson, a probation officer, told the court Greatorex, 54, had dropped his stepson off at Catterick Garrison - a military base near Richmond – that day.
Another person was also in the car at the time.
After arriving at the barracks, the defendant “had some sort of panic attack”, so an unnamed person bought some vodka from a nearby shop.
Greatorex told Mr Watson he “drank some of the vodka to try manage the panic attack” and felt fit enough to make the journey home.
He got behind the wheel, but lost control of the car when travelling southbound on the A1(M), which is when he collided with the central reservation.
Mr Watson told the court:
The defendant denies leaving the scene to avoid being breathalysed, but he is not able to give any account as to why he left the scene of the collision, especially as the position of the car put other road users at risk of serious harm.
The court heard Greatorex previously worked as a steel erector but has not worked for the last seven years due to struggling with anxiety.
However, he told the officer he believes he should speak to his GP about reviewing his medication.
Greatorex said he drinks around alcohol once a month, but admitted to consuming approximately eight beers on those occasions.
He does not usually drink spirits, the court heard.
Before sentencing, Mr Uddin reminded the magistrates Greatorex has not offended for 14 years and requested they give him the opportunity to carry out a drink-drive awareness course.
‘For some reason, you leave the car with people in it’
Passing sentence, the chair of the magistrates’ bench said:
You had been drinking to the extent it was over the limit and you drove into the central reservation. For some reason, you then leave the car with people in it in a dangerous position.
Greatorex was handed a 12-month community order, during which he must complete up to 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days and 56 hours of unpaid work.
He was banned from driving for 22 months, which will be reduced by 22 weeks if he completes the drink-driving course by a set date.
The magistrates also ordered Greatorex to pay a total of £199 to the court.
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