2:45pm Friday 9th May 2008
By Alex Hill
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.
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