A banned driver from Exeter spotted behind the wheel who ‘panicked’ and gave police a fake name has been ordered to carry out unpaid work
A car driver who was questioned by police after being stopped, told them: ‘It’s not my job to be truthful’, writes Isabelle Pinnock, OPCC court reporting scheme.
Simon Bevan, of Gloucester Road, Exeter, pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified and resisting a constable in the execution of their duty, when he appeared at Exeter Magistrates’ Court.
On October 12 last year, officers carried out checks on a silver Ford Focus to find that the driver was disqualified.
When they spoke to the driver, he initially gave a false name, which was then challenged by the officers, who also asked for his date of birth.
Bevan refused and said: “It’s the job of the police to work out who I am and follow the law; it’s not my job to be truthful.”
The prosecutor, Lauren Floyd, said the defendant was resistant to arrest, and officers had to use incapacitant spray and a taser to stop him running away.
Bevan contested this however, and said officers only threatened to use these items.
Representing himself, Bevan said: “At the time I was in a state of panic and not in a good place mentally. I stupidly gave a false name and I admitted that.”
When considering whether the sentence should involve unpaid work, a probation officer highlighted the “therapeutic value of unpaid work” and said it was the defendant’s choice, to which Bevan replied he would be “keen”.
He was given a 12-month community order including 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days and 40 hours of unpaid work. No costs were awarded but Bevan must pay the £114 victim surcharge.
Bevan is already banned from driving until July this year, and the bench imposed a further 3-month disqualification.
