Driver stopped in King's Lynn was banned

The girlfriend of a disqualified motorist hopped in the driver’s seat after he was stopped by police, a court heard.

Ryan Crick, 22, had been followed into Lynn’s Austin Fields Industrial Estate by officers.

“The defendant has got out of the driver’s side and was already speaking to officers when a female clambered over into the driver’s seat,” said prosecutor Katharine Kibrya-Dean. “She was the registered keeper and insured party.”

The court was told that Crick disputed that he was banned, saying that the court case was ongoing.

He also claimed he’d been stopped earlier that day and police had confirmed he was fine to drive for now.

However, Miss Kibrya-Dean told the bench that these were incorrect – Crick had attended court when the disqualification was imposed in December 2020 and there had been no police stop earlier that day, April 14.

Crick, of Westfields, Tilney St Lawrence, pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified and having no insurance for the Honda Jazz.

The couple had been for a meal in town, said solicitor Charlotte Winchester.

“The intention was that she would be driving home. She suffers with a medical issue in a leg – it goes into spasm and that’s exactly what happened,” she added.

Crick had phoned his boss, who was working at the industrial estate, to ask if he could take them home. The boss said he would if they could get themselves to where he was working.

“That’s what Mr Crick was doing – going from Albert Street car park to Austin Fields, a very short distance,” said Miss Winchester.

The court was told that Crick was already serving a three-year driving ban.

He received a 12-month community order with a three-month nighttime curfew and up to 20 days of rehabilitation activities.

For the insurance matter, he was fined £400 and given six penalty points.

An order was made for £200 costs and victim surcharge.