Cromer Man Convicted of Being Drunk in Charge of Mobility Scooter

A Cromer man has been convicted of being drunk in charge of a mobility scooter.

Sean Coburn, 68, of Roughton Road, Cromer was convicted of an offence under section 12 of the Licensing Act 1872, which prohibits a drunk person being in charge of any carriage, horse, cattle, or steam engine on a highway or public place.

The unusual circumstances of the offence appear to have caused confusion with the police, who initially charged Coburn with an offence under section 4(1) of the Road Traffic Act 1988 - namely that he had driven or attempted to drive a mechanically propelled vehicle in a public place whilst unfit through drink.

However, section 20(1) of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970, as amended, specifically exempts "invalid carriages", which includes mobility scooters, from the drink drive provisions of the 1988 Act. It is for that reason that a prosecution was brought under the 1872 legislation.

Coburn failed to attend Norwich Magistrates' Court yesterday, so the charge was proven in his absence.

He was fined £220, ordered to pay £200 costs and a £30 victim surcharge.