Michael Sheill, was stopped in a rented vehicle, while using a mobile phone at the wheel.

Sheill, initially pleaded guilty to the offence, but denied other charges of driving without insurance, driving while disqualified and failure to comply with road signals.

At Sevenoaks Magistrates’ Court, he appeared unrepresented and explained that he had been driving using an Irish driving licence, which he thought was valid despite him being banned from driving in the UK.

Read the full article here

The Director of Public Prosecutions Keir Starmer, is now carrying out an urgent review after the Federation warned that officers could refuse to pursue fugitives, burglars, carjackers and other dangerous offenders if the law on dangerous driving is not changed to provide exemptions for 999 emergencies.

This move comes after the prosecution of a police patrol officer for dangerous driving even though no complaint was made about his driving and no members of the public were injured.

PC James Holden was prosecuted after a chase involving a serial burglar was deemed to have gone on for too long and had put lives and properties at risk.

This case has raised fears that dozens of other police patrol officers could face prosecution.

More than a hundred police officers have contacted the Police Federation to say they are worried about putting their foot down when chasing an offender.  Paramedics and firefighters have also expressed concerns.

Read the full article here

• A motorist from Poole was stopped for using his mobile phone while driving. He stated the obvious, as he said: ‘Well I wouldn’t have used my mobile if I knew there were police officers in an unmarked car behind me.’

• A woman denied to officers that she was using her mobile phone while driving.  She told police that she was instead eating a prawn cracker and she didn’t have her mobile phone with her.  She then provided the officer with her number and when the officer rang the number, unsurprisingly, the woman’s phone rang in the car.  The woman immediately apologised and offered the officer a prawn cracker.’

• A driver was caught doing more than 50mph before telling officers ‘he thought it was only a 40mph zone.’

• A motorist stopped in Poole travelling at 50mph in a 40mph zone told officers: ‘I’m on my way to an eyesight test and didn’t see the speed limit sign.’

• One woman stopped travelling at 44mph said that she was just keeping up with the flow of traffic.  She changed her defence when the officer pointed out that she was the only car on the road.

• A motorcyclist was stopped by officers for riding at 42mph.  He thought it was unfair that the police positioned themselves at the bottom of the hill because his bike goes faster downhill.

• A driver was stopped for not wearing his seatbelt.  When questioned by officers he said he was not wearing one because ‘his wife was always going on at him about it.’  He then claimed that it took a long time for the news about the seat belt laws to sink in.

Between April 2011 and March 2012, 2,411 drivers were caught flouting the 50mph speed limit.

Some 90 per cent of those 2,177 motorists opted to attend a speed awareness course instead of paying the £75 and receiving points on their licence.

The remaining 234 were issued with a fine or were prosecuted at court.

The figures released by Essex police, show an increase on the 1,866 caught speeding in the same speed zone between April 2010 and March 2011.

The cameras were installed in 2009, but suspicions from many motorists have doubted whether they were working.

Read the full article here

Joshua Kane Greenwood, climbed into the back of the tractor when it was parked on Clitheroe town centre.  He managed to get the tractor started and drove a short distance before he was apprehended by police.

Greenwood, gave a positive breath test and was taken to a nearby police station for questioning.

He was later was charged with driving with excess alcohol, taking the tractor without consent and driving the tractor without insurance.

The taking without consent and no insurance offences were later withdrawn by prosecutors.

Greenwood, admitted driving with excess alcohol.

He was fined £240, with a £15 victim surcharge and disqualified from driving for 12 months.

Read the full article here

Trafford Magistrates’ Court heard how the Stoke winger was more than twice the limit when he got behind the wheel if his BMW to drive back from Manchester in the early hours of April 29.

He was arrested after being involved in a minor road crash after deciding to drive home when he was unable to book a hotel.

Pennant was breathalysed and gave a reading of 89 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millitres of breath.

The court heard how, Pennant, may have also been speeding and gone through a red light but he was not prosecuted over the accident.

Pennant had already been banned from driving earlier that month in Cannock, Staffordshire, for totting up too many points on his licence.

Read the full article here

It was found that only half of the network had adequate barriers which would provide protection for motorists if they had lost control of the car.

The problem is down to poor motorway maintenance which has seen crash barriers left unrepaired after previous accidents, decreasing their effectiveness.

The government is due to launch a consultation on proposals to raise the motorway speed limit later in the year.

Read the full article here

Harry Hull-Merrick drove through suburban areas at high speed before eventually arrested when he was cornered in a cul-de-sac.

Merrick who had previously admitted dangerous driving, driving with excess alcohol and driving while disqualified, was sentenced to 15 months imprisonment and disqualified from driving for three years.

The court heard how Merrick had borrowed a friends vehicle on the night of the incident after a party.  He was spotted driving at high speed by police and went through five sets of red traffic lights and a no entry sign, in an effort to get away from police.

Read the full article here

The court heard, that at one point on the route Snodin, stopped the vehicle and got out for a cigarette with the only passenger.

A member of the public contacted the police after following the bus and asked the driver when he pulled over was he OK.

Snodin was taking to Skegness Police Station were a breath test shown a reading of 136 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 millitres of breath.

He admitted driving with excess alcohol and was given a 26 week jail sentence suspended for 12 months.  He was also banned from driving for three years.

Read the full article here

Edwin McArthur, who downed cider as he drove home, started a year long jail term after admitting drink driving.

McArthur, was arrested after originally giving an alcohol reading of more than twice the limit.

He appeared at Perth Sheriff Court the following day and pleaded not guilty.  However, by 6pm, McArthur was drunk again and drove home.

Police caught up with him outside his home after he drove into a hedge.

McArthur later admitted the offence and was jailed for six months and was given a seven year driving ban.

He was also jailed for an additional six months for the initial offence.

Read the full article here