In what police described as a “blatant disregard for the law”, a driver was banned for six months, then immediately got in his car and drove off.
Kalamehan Puvanathayatharan appeared at Harrogate Magistrates’ Court yesterday (Tuesday) where he got three points on his licence.
This was for speeding on Leyburn Road in Catterick Garrison last July, when he was clocked doing 37mph on a 30mph route in his blue VW Touran people carrier.
Puvanathayatharan already had nine points on his licence, so the three extra points took the tally to 12, meaning an automatic disqualification.
As well as the six-month road ban, Puvanathayatharan was ordered to pay a £176 fine.
Despite repeated warnings that the disqualification was effective immediately, he still drove away from court.
The police were alerted by prosecutor Meg Fox. Traffic officer PC Jack Dodsworth pulled over Puvanathayatharan’s vehicle on the A168 near Dishforth.
The vehicle was seized and Puvanathayatharan had to make arrangements to travel home on public transport or taxi.
This latest incident is now under investigation.
Mrs Fox said: “The defendant displayed a blatant disregard for the law and road safety, and I was very pleased that my report led to a quick interception by the Roads Policing Group.”
PC Dodsworth said: “This type of behaviour is shocking and demonstrates why the police, and the criminal justice system, must clamp down on offenders who willingly break the law and put the safety of others at risk. If you receive a disqualification from driving, it starts immediately.
“We can all play our part in reporting suspicious activity. In this instance, the police prosecutor was certainly in the right place at the right time to alert us to the suspect.”
