South Tyneside driver refuses alcohol breath test twice - loses job and driving licence
Jarrow driver gets ban and loses job after refusing to take police breathalyser.
A South Tyneside engineer pulled over by police on suspicion of speeding has lost his job and driving licence after he refused to be breath tested.
Gregory Crumpton, 32, was stopped after he allegedly hit 70mph on the 50mph A194 near Jarrow on Sunday, March 8, a court heard.
Crumpton, of Pine Street, Jarrow, complied with a request to be breathalysed at the roadside, which recorded a reading of over twice the booze limit.
But he then refused to provide two evidential breath samples at a police station, causing him to be charged with failing to provide a sample for analysis.
At South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court, he pleaded guilty to that charge and was banned from the roads for a year.
It was an outcome his solicitor said will see him sacked by his bosses who need him to travel on call between Berwick and Humberside.
Driver was speeding and was pulled over by police
Prosecutor Syed Ali said: “Police sighted a vehicle being driven on the A194 at a speed of 70mph in a 50mph zone.
“They stopped his vehicle and when they approached, he said that he had driven from the Hull area.
“An officer has requested the defendant provide a roadside breath sample. It gave a reading of 76mcg.
“He was taken into custody and the same officer conducted the breath test procedure. The defendant did not provide.”
Crumpton’s roadside breath test reading is against a legal limit of 35mcg.
Nigel Hedley, defending, said: “My client is extremely remorseful for what has happened.
“Quite simply, the position he was in was that he hadn’t had a drink of what he considered of any substantial nature that day.
“We appreciate that the roadside breath test as noted by the police, but we don’t know that that was accurate
“He is an engineer and was in employment and employed 24/7. He was on call to travel the northern hemisphere, from Hull to Berwick.
Driver loses his job due to ban
“Because of this conviction, he has lost his employment. He has had to tell his employer about what has happened.
“This has been a tremendous setback for him. There is a provisional offer of employment when he gets his licence back.”
Magistrates also fined Crumpton £120, with £85 court costs and a £48 victim surcharge.