Banned driver due in court after wearing moon boot behind the wheel

The 31-year-old, who has previously been disqualified from driving, was stopped by Northumbria Police on the afternoon of Sunday, December 27, after the vehicle, which was pulling a large trailer, was seen driving in the middle of the road.

An officer pulled over the vehicle and as they approached, discovered the suspected driver was wearing a large, black moon boot – after having surgery on his leg just 10 days earlier.

The man was promptly arrested and upon his arrival in custody it emerged he was already disqualified and was wanted for a string of other offences.

He has since been charged with dangerous driving and will appear before South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court in the New Year.

Chief Inspector Sam Rennison, of Northumbria Police, said: “This arrest came as a result of a proactive officer trusting his policing instinct.

“He has seen something that didn’t look quite right and that has resulted in the arrest of a man already disqualified from driving and who was wanted for a string of offences.

“This driver also faces being convicted of dangerous driving after telling officers he had been driving while wearing a large moon boot covering his leg.

“That could be incredibly dangerous and people should know it could constitute a criminal offence if we deem you not to be in a position to suitably control a vehicle.

“We have also seized this vehicle as it was completely unsuitable to be driven on the roads with one tyre completely bare and another dangerously under inflated.

“Our officers will continue to carry out patrols across the festive period and keep you safe by trusting our policing instinct.”

The incident happened as the officer was on patrol on Haggs Lane, in Lamesley, just a short distance off the A1 in Gateshead.

The man was summonsed to court in the New Year for dangerous driving and will also face charges of driving with no insurance and driving with no licence.

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