Disqualified Amesbury driver who caused collision given suspended sentence

Police say "it is fortunate that nobody was seriously injured"

Author: Jack DeeryPublished 28th May 2021

A man from Amesbury who caused a collision on the A345 last year while being disqualified from driving has been given a suspended sentence.

Jake Harris, 27 of Tempest Road, pleaded guilty to aggravated vehicle taking without consent, driving whilst disqualified, careless driving and driving without insurance.

Harris also pleaded guilty to another count of vehicle without consent to an offence that occurred on 18th May last year.

On Friday 25th September 2020 there was a road traffic collision on the A345 at the junction with Down Barn Road at around 1:15pm.

The vehicle Harris was driving, a white Citroen Berlingo which didn't belong to him, had hit the rear of a white Kia Rio that had slowed down for traffic at the junction.

The collision left the Kia in the nearside verge and caused significant damage to both vehicles.

At the time, Harris was disqualified from driving and was not insured.

He's been sentenced to 12 weeks in prison, suspended for 18 months, disqualified for driving for 35 months and fined ÂŁ963 as well as costs and ordered to engage in a rehabilitation programme.

Sgt Laura Cook, of the Amesbury Response Team, said:

"This is a serious offence and it is fortunate that nobody was seriously injured as a result of this collision.

Harris showed a complete disregard for the law by taking a vehicle that not only didn't belong to him but whilst he was already disqualified from driving and without the appropriate insurance.

There is never an excuse to get behind the wheel of a car when you are disqualified, no matter how important you think that journey may be at the time. Always get somebody else to drive you."

Anyone suspicious of someone driving whilst disqualified should call 101 and give as much information as possible.

Or call 999 if you believe a crime is already being committed.

Hear all the latest news from across the UK on the hour, every hour, on Greatest Hits Radio on DAB, smartspeaker, at greatesthitsradio.co.uk, and on the Rayo app.