Corporal escapes driving ban
AN ARMY corporal from Mildenhall who drove without insurance has escaped a driving ban because a court heard he needed to use his car to take his father to hospital.
Richard Shaw, of Kings Close, already had six points on his licence from a previous conviction when he was stopped by police in February.
Prosecuting, Ros Clark told magistrates at Bury St Edmunds that Shaw, who is based at RAF Honington, gave police insurance documents that had expired four months earlier.
Although he admitted driving without insurance, Shaw told the court he did not realise his cover had expired.
Magistrates endorsed Shaw's licence with seven points, which made him liable for disqualification under the totting rule.
However, they accepted his exceptional hardship plea – that he needed to drive his father, who has Parkinson's Disease, to hospital for regular appointments – and allowed him to keep his licence.
Shaw told the court that his patrol duties also required him to drive.
His superior officer, Flying Officer Mark Wareing, said if Shaw was banned from driving it would restrict his military capability.
Shaw was also fined 420 and ordered to pay 60 costs and 15 victim surcharge.
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Friday 25 May 2012
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