Calpol run leads to unpaid work for Outwell dad
A disqualified father rushing to buy Calpol for his sick child who was spotted driving by an off-duty police officer has been ordered to do 60 hours of unpaid work.
Billy May, 35, of Basin Road, Outwell, admitted driving while disqualified and without insurance on May 4 when he appeared before magistrates at Lynn on Thursday
Asif Akram, prosecuting, described how an off-duty police officer who knew May had spotted him as he pulled up outside Outwell Post Office in Church Drove in his partner’s VW Golf.
The officer suspected he was still disqualified and made a check which confirmed his suspicions. May had been disqualified for three years in November 2022 for driving while disqualified and drink-driving – just a month after he had previously been banned for 12 months for drink-driving.
Police obtained CCTV footage from the Post Office which showed May driving.
Charlotte Winchester, defending, explained on the day in question May was not coping well, as the family was facing a no-fault eviction from their home because the owner wanted to sell the property due to rising interest rates.
May’s partner suffers from spinal problems and was struggling and the youngest child was not well so he made the decision to drive the mile to the Post Office to get some Calpol.
Ms Winchester said: “He realises it was a stupid decision.”
She agreed that May was facing a possible prison sentence but urged magistrates to consider unpaid work, as he had previously completed a similar order successfully in the past.
Magistrates ordered a stand-down report from probation to see if May would be suitable for unpaid work.
After speaking with May, probation said he was suitable and as a result, he was given a 12-month community order with 60 hours of unpaid work. He was disqualified for a further three months, which means he has 16 months to run on his ban. His licence was endorsed for the no insurance offence and May was ordered to pay £40 costs with £114 victim surcharge.
He was previously eligible for the driver’s rehabilitation course, but he had lost that opportunity as a result of this latest offence.