Man disqualified from driving for almost five years

A man who was found to be driving a dangerous and overweight vehicle has been disqualified from driving for more than four years.

On June 5 last year, Paul Holt, 43, of Clayburn Gardens, Thurrock, was spotted by officers on the M4 near junction 15 in a white Ford Transit van which was suspected of being overloaded.

Roads Policing officers signalled for Holt to follow them to Badbury Weighbridge, where the vehicle was found to weigh around 5,100kg, well over the max payload.

The vehicle was also found to have numerous defects, including dangerously worn tyres, inoperative rear offside brake light, reverse lights and side indicator, as well as a fuel leak constituting a fire risk.

Holt provided false details before leaving the scene. He was subsequently found to be driving while disqualified and without insurance.

On May 1 at Barkingside Magistrates’ Court, Essex, he was sentenced to eight weeks’ imprisonment, suspended for 18 months, for driving while disqualified, driving without insurance, driving a vehicle in a dangerous condition, failing to stop for police, and obstructing a police constable in the execution of their duty.

He was also disqualified from driving for four-years-and-ten-months, and required to complete a three-month drug rehabilitation course, 20 days of rehabilitation activity, pay £170 costs and a victim surcharge of £154.