£2,000 "hit in the pocket" for driver without insurance

Wednesday 12 April 2023

A 26-year-old man has had a £2,000 "hit in the pocket" on the recommendation of his lawyer, after being caught driving to the airport without car insurance — but has been allowed to keep his driving license.

Jonathan Barrow appeared in Magistrate’s Court this week after admitting driving while uninsured and subsequently failing to notify DVS within seven days of the infraction.

The court heard that Barrow, who has two previous offences for uninsured driving in 2014, drove and parked the uninsured vehicle at the airport on 19 November, where he then took a flight.

Barrow, who works as a gardener, also has outstanding fines related to other offences – with the new fine taking the total amount due to the court to around £4,000.

Advocate James Bell, defending, urged the court to deliver a financial penalty, as opposed to disqualifying Barrow from driving.

He said: "Hit him in the pocket and allow him to continue with his employment.

"His employment is conditional on him being able to drive – the tools used are very heavy."

Pictured: His advocate claimed that Barrow's employment as a gardener is conditional on him being able to drive to transport his "heavy" tools.

Barrow’s journey to the airport was the only time that he had driven the vehicle, which was usually kept at "his boss’s yard", Advocate Bell said.

The court was also told that Barrow had not driven the vehicle since the day of the incident.

Advocate Bell added: "This was not a very sophisticated offence. It was parked in a car park and was liable to be checked.

"He [Barrow] knows that the court does not take a favourable view and he does regret not insuring the vehicle.

"At the time he did not notify the relevant department at DVS, which he really should have at that moment in time."

The court heard that Barrow was paying his existing fines at a rate of £50 per week but that some payments had been missed.

However, Barrow said: "I don’t smoke cigarettes or drink alcohol any more. I’m seeing a big difference in my finances."

The Magistrate, Bridget Shaw, presiding, said Barrow was "highly negligent" for "not making enquiries" to DVS after he was found to be uninsured.

"You’ve got in the region of £4,000 in fines to pay now, if you don’t pay the fines then you are going to prison," she said.

Magistrate Shaw added: "I’m not going to disqualify you from driving on the basis of your job and what your advocate has said."