A Ryde man who got behind the wheel of a works van just minutes after being banned from driving has been handed another disqualification – this time for 21 months.
Benjamin Hadfield, 32, of Solent View Close, appeared before the Isle of Wight Magistrates Court this morning (Tuesday) charged with driving whilst disqualified – a charge he pleaded guilty to.
The court heard from the prosecution that Hadfield failed to appear in court on 19th November last year and was arrested under warrant. He was put before the court and banned for a period of 12 months for the offence of drug driving (cocaine) and driving without insurance.
Within just minutes of leaving the court building in Quay Street, Hadfield was captured on CCTV walking towards Pyle Street before getting in the driver’s seat of a Renault Trafic van belonging to ‘Boiler 4 Life’. He then drove over 8 miles to his home address in Ryde.
Defending, Jim Osborne said that his client had only driven a short distance and there was no evidence of bad driving. Mr Osborne told the court that Hadfield, who lost his job and his home as a result of his recent court appearance, decided to drive as he didn’t want to leave his tools in the van in Newport.
Magistrates banned Benjamin Hadfield from driving for a 21-month period and made him subject to a 12-month community order with 180 hours of unpaid work and a 12-week curfew between 19:00-07:00. He was also ordered to pay £85 costs and a £95 surcharge.
“Boiler 4 Life” deserve much better service than this from their employee.
He should have been jailed,
The excuses always sound so earnest, don’t they.
“that his client had only driven a short distance and there was no evidence of bad driving”
so even though he was banned, his solicitor thinks it was ok for him to drive without a license and insurance ….there is the bad driving just there
And that’s going to keep him off the road is it, most unlikely !!
Shows what some people think of the Law, some people don’t give a ****
This second ban will just about do it, this will teach him!!!! NOT. What a pathetic effort on the Magistrates part. I suppose they are limited to what they can do. Next time, and there will be a next time, hopefully he’ll get sent down. It’s ridiculous really, banning someone who’s already on a ban.
They were obviously waiting for this idiot to leave court for him to be followed by CCTV, well done the camera operator and the police for a swift response and the foresight to know he would do it again so quickly.
Far from swift, he drove to Ryde…
only a short distance…8 miles,are you sure.
So, he was already banned, drove to Court, got another ban and drove home. Worried about the his tools? Why were they in a van when he had allegedly lost his job and was already banned. Clearly respects the rule of law, this chap.
How was he banned before he went to court? No sentence was given until to 1st court appearance.
His previous ban was still in force.
Clearly Boiler4life don`t care who they employ or send into peoples homes to do jobs.
I think Jim Osbourne, defending, seriously needs to reconsider his life choices. I have not heard such a pathetic excuse for driving whilst banned.
Well, to be fair, he ain’t got much to work with has he ?
The chap is just doing his job !