Banned motorist caught driving mum's car during lockdown after home shopping blunder

A motorist was caught at the wheel while serving a drink-drive ban after he jumped in his mum’s motor after a home shopping blunder, a court heard.
Police stopped the vehicle in Hazard Lane, Hetton.Police stopped the vehicle in Hazard Lane, Hetton.
Police stopped the vehicle in Hazard Lane, Hetton.

Darren Roxby, 35, of The Poplars, Easington Lane, Houghton, drove to the shops to correct a snag in her delivery order.

But the former Nissan car plant worker was spotted by police in Hazard Lane, Hetton, during the return leg on Thursday, May 28.

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He was pulled over in the 2004-plate Honda Civic and arrested after checks uncovered his earlier disqualification, magistrates in South Tyneside were told.

Roxby believed he could get away with the crime because the roads were quiet due to the coronavirus lockdown.

Prosecutor Alan Davison said: “At 8.45pm police were driving on Hazard Lane.

“They see him driving and stop him and speak to him. He admitted that he was banned.”

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Paul McAlindon, defending, said: “This is a guilty plea at the first opportunity. Mr Roxby was fully compliant with the police when he was stopped.

“What he told police, and what he would tell the court, is that he lives alone with his mum.

“Because of everything that’s been going on, because of coronavirus and because she is in her 70s, she had been staying indoors.

“Shopping had been arranged but there had been an issue with the delivery.”

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Mr McAlindon added: “He accepts that he made the decision to drive when it was quiet and less of an issue.

“He was stopped on his way back from the shop. It’s also about half-way into his ban.

“It was his mum’s vehicle, he was not driving for any reward.”

Mr McAlindon told the court the starting point for Roxby’s latest offence was a low level community order.

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He said Roxby had been employed at Nissan but had been one of several employees made redundant due to coronavirus-related job losses.

Roxby pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified and driving without insurance.

Magistrates ordered a Probation Service report into his offending and adjourned the case for sentencing to Tuesday, September 22.

He was granted unconditional bail.

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