“Selfish, irresponsible and dangerous”: Drunk disqualified driver receives road ban after being caught by traffic cop near Skipton

A Knaresborough man already serving a road ban was caught behind the wheel near Skipton more than double the legal limit for alcohol.

Lee Llewelyn, 34, of Pearl Close, appeared at Skipton Magistrates’ Court today (23 August 2024) where he pleaded guilty to:

• Driving while over the prescribed limit 
• Driving while disqualified
• Driving without insurance

He was given a 12-week suspended sentence; ordered to complete 120 hours of unpaid work and comply with rehabilitation activities and alcohol treatment; and disqualified from driving for three years.

Once he has served the ban, Llewelyn will need to take an extended driving test before being allowed on the roads again.

The incident was reported to the North Yorkshire Police control room by several concerned members of the public at around 4.50pm on Monday 5 August 2024.

They observed Llewelyn behaving suspiciously in a white Nissan Juke car that was parked in a lay-by on the A59 at Haw Park House to Holme Lane.

They then witnessed Llewelyn driving off in the direction of Bolton Abbey.

Traffic Constable David Minto was alerted to the scene and located the suspect vehicle at 5.08pm.

Llewelyn initially failed to stop when TC Minto flashed the blue lights and instructed him to pull over.

When the car was brought to a safe stop at 5.20pm on White Wall Lane towards Harrogate, Llewelyn failed a roadside breath test.

He was arrested for this offence as well as the other two offences that he was later charged with.

The evidential reading in police custody recorded Llewelyn as having 84 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath – the legal limit is 35 micrograms of alcohol.

TC Minto said: “The defendant clearly has no regard for other road users. 

“Despite being handed a two-year disqualification for failing to provide a specimen following a damage-only collision in Knaresborough on 15 May, he chose to drive a vehicle three months later.

“Not only that he was drunk whilst doing so – more than double limit.

“North Yorkshire Police will never tire of putting these selfish, irresponsible and dangerous individuals before the courts to reduce the risk to other motorists and pedestrians.”