Another CPS Failure: Dangerous Grimsby Driver Walks Free on Lesser Charge

A Grimsby man falsely reported his car stolen, having piled it into several others just moments earlier.

James Baker, 24, of Eleanor Street, Grimsby, was convicted in his absence of careless driving, driving without insurance, driving otherwise than in accordance with his licence, leaving the scene of an accident and failing to report an accident.

The court was shown CCTV footage of the collision, which took place in the town's Barcroft Street. Baker's red Peugeot 207, which he later described as his "pride and joy", was seen travelling down the narrow residential street at excessive speed before clipping a vehicle parked on the opposite side. The impact shunted the parked vehicle, a silver Peugeot saloon, across the adjacent pavement at the same time as Baker's vehicle span into others parked nearby. A innocent motorist sustained whiplash injuries as a result.

Immediately after the collision Baker exited the car and ran down the road to a public telephone box, which he used to report it as stolen. Two passengers walked away from the wreckage of Baker's car.

Baker dishonestly told police that he had just bought the car and it had been stolen after he left it parked on a garage forecourt. He denied driving the car, but his DNA was found on the deployed airbag inside.

Unemployed Baker was fined £240, was banned from driving for two years, was given 10 days' rehabilitation and was ordered to pay £400 compensation and £85 costs.

Looking at the CCTV footage there is little doubt in our mind that a charge of dangerous driving would have been more appropriate in this case. Baker has displayed serial dishonesty and total disregard for the safety of other road users and pedestrians. In our mind, had appropriate charges been laid, the totality of his offences would have passed the custody threshold.

For whatever reason, the CPS has decided to settle for the lesser charge of careless driving. As we have previously mentioned, the court can only deal with the charges the CPS lays before it. In our opinion, the public will be rightly concerned at the leniency of Baker's sentence.