Uninsured driver was twice over the limit

Gary Stringer crashed his Mitsubishi Pajero into an oncoming car last month while driving along Ravenshouse Road, Scout Hill.

Nobody was injured and only minor damage was caused, and he stopped and waited for police to arrive.

When they carried out a breathalyser test, officers found he was more than twice over the legal limit.

They also discovered he was not insured, prosecutor Vanessa Schofield told Kirklees Magistrates’ Court on Monday.

Stringer, 53, who represented himself, told magistrates: “It was a major error on my part which I regret. It’s something I’ve never done before.

“I didn’t think I had had excess, but I hadn’t eaten which may have contributed.”

Stringer was arrested by police on Monday morning after failing to attend court last month.

He missed two earlier hearings, saying he had suffered a stroke.

But magistrates, who doubted his claims in absence of a medical note, issued a warrant on the second occasion.

Stringer used a walking stick as he was led into the dock by a security guard.

Handing over a medical note, he said: “I’ve been unable to get out. I couldn’t get to a postbox and I couldn’t find anywhere to photocopy it.”

Stringer, of Kilpin Hill Lane, Dewsbury, said he thought he was covered by the insurance policy of a man who he was working for at the time.

“I was under the impression I was under his company policy,” he said. “I was negligent. I should have followed that up.”

He admitted drink driving and driving without insurance,

The court heard Stringer had surrendered his licence following the stroke and was not expected to be well enough to drive again for several months.

He was banned from driving for 22 months with a 167 day reduction on completion of a course.

He must also pay a £125 fine, £20 victim surcharge and £85 costs.