A Stockton man has been convicted of impersonating a police officer after trying to blag his way out of a motoring offence.
Ryan Haughton, 30, of Osprey Close, Stockton, admitted charges of impersonating a police officer, driving without insurance and driving without a seat belt during a recent hearing at Teesside Magistrates' Court.
Impersonating a police officer is an offence under section 90(1) of the Police Act 1996. It has a maximum penalty of 6 months' custody and/or an unlimited fine on summary conviction.
Magistrates heard that Haughton was pulled over when police noticed he wasn't wearing a seat belt as he drove his Fiat Punto on the A19 near Billingham on 24th September 2020.
In a misguided effort to avoid a ticket, Haughton told the Cleveland officers he was a colleague serving with North Yorkshire Police. He showed them several photographs of him wearing uniform, in an attempt to bolster his credentials.
Checks confirmed that Haughton had actually resigned as a special constable more than two years earlier. Furthermore, he was uninsured to drive the vehicle.
Joanne Hesse, prosecuting, told the court that Haughton said he still assumed he was a special constable because he hadn't received any acknowledgement of his resignation from North Yorkshire Police.
Alex Bousfield, mitigating, explained that his client had been trying to get himself out of a situation and it spiralled.
He said: "It's a one-off offence.
"It's very foolish but not much more than that.
"No one has been harmed, no one has been put to a disadvantage.
"He's lost his good character and he's been employed in public service in the past, it's perhaps to his credit.
"He shouldn't have tried to take advantage of it now."
Michelle Matthews, Presiding Justice, told Haughton: "You pleaded guilty to the three offences at the first opportunity and we are going to give you credit for that.
"Bearing in mind you have at some point been a special constable and now you have used such a silly exercise.
"You're of previous good character and you're going to have a criminal record.
"I think you know yourself how foolish you have been."
Acknowledging his lack of judgement, Haughton replied: "Well it was silly, there's no other way around that."
He was fined £120 for impersonating a police officer, £120 for driving without insurance and his licence was endorsed with 6 penalty points. No separate penalty was imposed for the seat belt offence.
Haughton was also ordered to pay £85 towards prosecution costs and £34 victim surcharge.
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