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| Covid means Belfast driver escapes jail for speed points lie http://www.taxi-driver.co.uk/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=36754 |
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| Author: | StuartW [ Wed Mar 24, 2021 5:22 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Covid means Belfast driver escapes jail for speed points lie |
Belfast taxi driver spared jail for driving offence due to pandemic https://www.belfastlive.co.uk/news/belf ... l-20246305 Covid has had an impact on sending people to jail, judge says A speeding taxi driver who claimed a friend was driving his car to avoid penalty points was today spared jail because of the current ‘global pandemic’. Judge Neil Rafferty QC told Martin Kelly this was ‘the only thing’ that saved him from jail for perverting the course of public justice. The Belfast Crown Court judge said the law and courts regarded his crime so serious and regardless of offender, “from highest to lowest, from cabinet minister to taxi driver” a jail sentence was demanded. However, the pandemic presented courts with significant difficulties, not least public health considerations where sentenced prisoners must initially undergo two weeks isolation. Judge Rafferty told Kelly, from Carlisle Terrace, Belfast, he would instead suspend his six-month sentence for three years. Kelly, caught speeding in his Skoda taxi in December 2019, claimed a friend from Dublin was the driver but later admitted lying to avoid a fine and penalty points on his licence. Judge Rafferty said while quite shocking, he could only assume the reason behind the act was to save having to pay increased insurance premiums as a result. The judge added that given the pandemic alone and because he was a non-violent offender with a completely clear record he was prepared to suspended his jail term for offences which were always bound to ‘come home to roost’. |
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| Author: | Sussex [ Wed Mar 24, 2021 8:11 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Covid means Belfast driver escapes jail for speed points |
Have to agree with the judge. Idiots who don't give the right info, or ask others to take the wrap, are just that. Idiots. They are not career criminals and I have no doubt they will not be repeat offenders. |
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