Drink driver escapes course
2:45pm Friday 9th May 2008
Comments (2)A magistrate has criticised the law for allowing a repeat drink driver to escape justice by moving to Scotland.
Patrick Okine, of Whippendell Road, Watford, was caught drink driving while serving a ban and without insurance, in December.
The 40-year-old, who has three drink driving bans in the last ten years, could have gone to prison but was given a community order which included 14 sessions on a drink impaired drivers programme.
However, at Dacorum Magistrates Court today probation asked for that part of the order to be removed as Okine would be living in Glasgow where no such course is available.
Chairman of the Bench, Judith Hankinson, said: "It is quite a big chunk of the sentence that will be stopped. I am surprised people are allowed to move in the middle of their sentence.
"Regretfully it seems to me we have no choice although I am not very happy about it.
"This was a serious offence, serious enough for custody and the biggest part of it is now just gone "I do not think that is acceptable."
Okine will be supervised by probation at Strathkelvin Sheriff Court for the remainder his sentence including an unpaid work order.
Your Say YourWatford Observer
Roy Stockdill, says...
9:28pm Fri 9 May 08
But doesn't it strike you as odd that the probation service in England has no powers to prevent an offender doing a runner to Scotland? What sort of legal system are we living under? Of course, it's well known that the vast majority of probation officers and social workers are Loony Lefties who regard their charges as victims and "clients" and not criminals at all.
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Steve, Radlett says...
4:08pm Fri 9 May 08