Former soldier’s suicide bid scuppered by police speed check at Orby
A former soldier was on his way to take his own life when he was stopped by police for speeding.
Sean Gartland, who had served in Bosnia during his decade in the military, was heading to a layby where he planned to commit suicide until his Audi A5 was clocked doing 40mph in a 30mph zone at Orby, near Burgh Le Marsh.
Thankfully, that chance meeting has allowed Gartland – who suffers from PTSD and mental health troubles – to re-evaluate his life and a court order is now allowing the 51-year-old to seek much-needed help.
Gartland appeared at Boston Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday (February 28) where he pleaded guilty to driving whilst disqualified, using a vehicle without insurance and speeding on Gunby Road on January 11.
“His frame of mind wasn’t on whether or not he should be speeding. His frame of mind was unfortunately about ending his own life,” said Helen Coney, in mitigation.
“He had earmarked a layby to do it.”
Miss Coney told the court Gartland had recently been disqualified for driving on two separate occasions, firstly for a totting up of points and secondly for being stopped behind the wheel after this first ban was imposed.
She added that the defendant was unaware of his totting up disqualification when stopped on the previous occasion.
Prosecutor Paul Wood said Gartland had ‘admitted on the side of the road that he was a banned driver’.
A probation report explained the defendant – who gave his address as Pasture Lane, Hilcote, Derbyshire, but who has recently moved in with a relative in Ingoldmells for work – was ‘sorry for the trouble caused’ and ‘glad he didn’t go through with’ the plan to end his life.
The report added that returning to work had given him a ’boost’ of self esteem.
Gartland was disqualified from driving for a further six months and handed a 12-month community order with 30 rehabilitation days in a bid to to help him combat his mental health troubles.
He was also fined £150 and ordered to pay a £114 victim surcharge and £85 costs, to be paid in full within six months.
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