A County Durham man has been jailed for driving whilst disqualified after McDonald's staff reported him to the police on suspicion of drink driving.
Ian Mason, 36, of East Villas, Haswell, Durham, admitted two charges of driving whilst disqualified and one charge of assaulting an emergency worker, when he appeared in custody at Newcastle Magistrates' Court on Wednesday, 28th April 2021.
Driving whilst disqualified is an offence under section 103 of the Road Traffic Act 1988. It has maximum penalty of 26 weeks' custody and/or a fine at level 5 (unlimited) on summary conviction.
Mason also admitted two charges of driving without insurance and one of failing to stop for a police officer.
Magistrates heard that Mason visited the McDonald's drive through in the Byker area of Newcastle on the evening of Monday, 26th April 2021.
Stewart Haywood, prosecuting, outlined the circumstances: "Staff were concerned that the defendant was under the influence, so they asked him to go and park in a waiting bay for the food to be brought to him.
"But, during that time, they called the police. An officer arrived in a police vehicle. He stopped the vehicle and the van being driven by the defendant made a manoeuvre to go round him.
"The van drives towards the officer and the front nearside of the van strikes the officer's right leg, causing minor grazing and abrasion.
"The officer is pushed forward on the van and places his left hand on the bonnet to steady himself and push himself away.
"The passenger in the van can be heard shouting to the defendant to stop."
Enquiries revealed that Mason had recently been employed as a groundsman and the van was owned by his new boss.
Mr Haywood said that Mason drove away from the scene at considerable speed, but his freedom was short-lived when officers stopped him early the following morning on the A1 northbound near Washington.
When asked about the McDonald's incident, Mason dishonestly replied: "What? When did this happen? I was at work all day yesterday".
Paul Dunn, mitigating, said that Mason was travelling at no more than 5 mph when the van struck the officer.
He continued: "He was turning to get passed the police vehicle, having realised it was there.
"He inadvertently struck the officer. He didn't intend to."
Mr Dunn described Mason as a "hard-working" man, who was "frustrated" at not being allowed to drive legally.
Considering the offences in totality, Magistrates were of the opinion that they were so serious that only an immediate custodial sentence was appropriate.
Mason was sentenced to 16 weeks' custody.
He was also disqualified from driving for 36 months and ordered to pay £85 towards prosecution costs and £128 victim surcharge.
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