'You have to take responsibility for your actions' - South Shields man apologises as he's handed driving ban
A man from South Shields was handed a 46-month driving ban after admitting to driving while drunk and apologised to the court for his actions
A South Shields man apologised and admitted his actions were ‘wrong’ as he was handed a driving ban for almost four years.
Anthony Marr, of Horsley Hill Road, appeared at South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, October 15.
Marr, 66, had previously pleaded guilty to using a motor vehicle in a public place without insurance, driving without a licence, driving dangerously and driving whilst unfit through drink, on September 23 this year.
The court heard that police were called to a case of dangerous driving on the A194 in South Shields on April 8 and a stinger had to be deployed during the incident.
This caused damage to two tires of the vehicle and Marr was arrested and detained.
Officers found out the vehicle was uninsured and Marr’s licence had been revoked for medical reasons.
Prosecuting, Sara Kemp told the court Marr had three previous offences, two of which were related to drink driving.
Marr’s regrets
Defending, Hannah Mostoufi, told the court Marr “hugely regrets what happened” and “is very angry that he had put himself in this position when he was so close to being able to drive again.”
She told the court he was cleaning his partner’s car when he found some vodka and drank it, despite being sober for around a year, and he was “under pressure” with caring responsibilities for family members.
The court heard about Marr’s “long-standing” issues with alcohol and that he received an adult ADHD diagnosis at age 64.
The magistrates told Marr: “This was quite a serious matter and could have resulted in appalling outcomes.”
The sentence
They handed Marr a 46 month driving ban along with a 12 month community order during which he will be supervised by the probation service.
At the end of his driving ban he will have to take an extended retest and he was also ordered to complete 120 alcohol abstinence monitoring requirement days in addition to paying a total of £199 in costs.
As he was being sentenced, Marr apologised to the court, he said: “You have to take responsibility for your actions. Unfortunately my actions have been somehow the wrong ones.”
As he left the court he said: “You have given me the encouragement to change.”