Driver confusion as South Tyneside man refuses to give sample after road offence
A South Tyneside man has contested whether he was the driver after refusing to give a sample following a road offence.
A South Tyneside man has appeared in court to admit failing to provide a sample for analysis when suspected of committing a driving offence.
Simon Gudgeon, 47, of Marshall Wallis Road, near Laygate, South Shields, would not comply with a police request after being arrested on Friday, May 15.
Further details of the case against him were not revealed at South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court.
But Gudgeon is believed to deny driving a vehicle, while police claim they have grounds to believe he had.
The court heard a Newton hearing, which examines in detail contentious facts around a case, was needed to decide who was right before he could be sentenced.
His Newton hearing will be held at the same court on Wednesday, August 12.
District Judge Zoe Passfield told him: “Mr Gudgeon, you’ve pleaded guilty but before you can be sentenced, we need to have a hearing to see if there’s evidence of you driving the car.”