Coningsby driver convicted of driving while disqualified after crashing Land Rover
A Lincolnshire villager has been convicted of driving while disqualified twice within just over a month.
James Stedman, 25, was driving his grandfather’s Land Rover when he crashed into a roadside ditch at low speed in Langrick Road, Coningsby.
It happened at about 7.20pm on March 21 and the 25-year-old driver was still in the car when police arrived.
Boston Magistrates’ Court was told on Wednesday, June 4, that Stedman had a seizure while being taken to hospital and had a suspected bleed on the brain.
The defendant later told police that he hadn’t realised he was still disqualified until passing an extended driving test.
However, the court was told that Stedman therefore did know he was still disqualified when he was back behind the wheel of another Land Rover on the same road just over four weeks later.
The court was told that his previous convictions included dangerous driving in 2020 and driving while disqualified in 2021.
Simon Cobb, mitigating, said: “On March 21, the period of his ban had expired. Clearly, he had some sort of medical episode at the wheel.
“In relation to the second offence, he doesn’t claim that he didn’t know he was driving while disqualified.”
Mr Cobb said his client had been en route to pick up his partner’s children from nursery and school while she was in hospital.
Stedman, of Leagate Road, Tumby, was given a 12-month community order with 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days. He was also banned from driving for 12 months, fined £200 and told to pay £114 victim surcharge and £85 costs.