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Tailgating lorry driver gets ban Tailgating lorry driver gets ban
(about 20 hours later)
A lorry driver has been banned from driving and given a suspended jail sentence after he tailgated a hatchback car on the A55 in Flintshire.A lorry driver has been banned from driving and given a suspended jail sentence after he tailgated a hatchback car on the A55 in Flintshire.
Mark Adrian Beniston, 43, of Chesterfield, Derbyshire, was spotted by a traffic official about 18in away from a small Honda car ahead.Mark Adrian Beniston, 43, of Chesterfield, Derbyshire, was spotted by a traffic official about 18in away from a small Honda car ahead.
A judge at Mold Crown Court gave him a 20-week sentence, suspended for a year, after his dangerous driving conviction.A judge at Mold Crown Court gave him a 20-week sentence, suspended for a year, after his dangerous driving conviction.
Beniston was also ordered to carry out community work.Beniston was also ordered to carry out community work.
Judge John Rogers QC told him if he had been behind the wheel of a car then the offence would not have been as grave.Judge John Rogers QC told him if he had been behind the wheel of a car then the offence would not have been as grave.
You drove very close to the car in front. It must have been terrifying for the occupants Judge John Rogers QCYou drove very close to the car in front. It must have been terrifying for the occupants Judge John Rogers QC
"This was a very large lorry," said the judge."This was a very large lorry," said the judge.
"You drove very close to the car in front. It must have been terrifying for the occupants.""You drove very close to the car in front. It must have been terrifying for the occupants."
He added: "I am sure you appreciate that this driving was dangerous.He added: "I am sure you appreciate that this driving was dangerous.
"I understand you contested it because the conviction inevitably mean that you could not go on working as a HGV driver." "I understand you contested it because the conviction inevitably meant that you could not go on working as a HGV driver."
Beniston now works as a chef.Beniston now works as a chef.
CCTV footageCCTV footage
Defending barrister David Pojur said that while Beniston did drive close to the car in front, it had only been for a short time.Defending barrister David Pojur said that while Beniston did drive close to the car in front, it had only been for a short time.
There had been no crash and while the occupants of the car may have been concerned, he said the driver did not have to take evasive action.There had been no crash and while the occupants of the car may have been concerned, he said the driver did not have to take evasive action.
Beniston's actions were caught on CCTV footage.Beniston's actions were caught on CCTV footage.
At his trial in September, the jury was told he was caught after he was filmed by an an officer of the Vehicle Operator and Services Agency (Vosa).At his trial in September, the jury was told he was caught after he was filmed by an an officer of the Vehicle Operator and Services Agency (Vosa).
Gareth Preston, prosecuting, said that Vosa officer Paul Edwards was at Northop Hall on 5 October last year monitoring traffic on the eastbound A55.Gareth Preston, prosecuting, said that Vosa officer Paul Edwards was at Northop Hall on 5 October last year monitoring traffic on the eastbound A55.
He had the power to stop vehicles to check their weight and driver's documents and his van was equipped with recording equipment.He had the power to stop vehicles to check their weight and driver's documents and his van was equipped with recording equipment.
Mr Edwards pulled out, intending to stop-check the defendant's lorry, and requesting it to pull over to a checkpoint at Ewloe using signs on his van.Mr Edwards pulled out, intending to stop-check the defendant's lorry, and requesting it to pull over to a checkpoint at Ewloe using signs on his van.
But when he approached the vehicle he quickly realised that the lorry was dangerously close, and was tailgating a small Honda hatchback, the court was told.But when he approached the vehicle he quickly realised that the lorry was dangerously close, and was tailgating a small Honda hatchback, the court was told.
Arwyn Jones, a passenger in the Honda, told how he was frightened by the manner of the defendant's driving.Arwyn Jones, a passenger in the Honda, told how he was frightened by the manner of the defendant's driving.
Mr Edwards trained his camera on the articulated lorry and the Honda car and changed the command sign to instruct the lorry driver to follow him.Mr Edwards trained his camera on the articulated lorry and the Honda car and changed the command sign to instruct the lorry driver to follow him.
'Cut him up''Cut him up'
He overtook the lorry but the defendant then drove extremely close to the Vosa van, in a manner Mr Edwards found intimidating.He overtook the lorry but the defendant then drove extremely close to the Vosa van, in a manner Mr Edwards found intimidating.
The lorry was overtaken once more and the defendant complied with a request to stop at Hapsford services at Junction 14 of the M56, and he returned with Mr Edwards to the Ewloe check-point.The lorry was overtaken once more and the defendant complied with a request to stop at Hapsford services at Junction 14 of the M56, and he returned with Mr Edwards to the Ewloe check-point.
Beniston claimed in court that the CCTV footage gave a distorted picture.Beniston claimed in court that the CCTV footage gave a distorted picture.
He said that he was in fact hemmed in and drove close to the Honda because it was dangerous to brake.He said that he was in fact hemmed in and drove close to the Honda because it was dangerous to brake.
The defendant claimed that the Vosa vehicle "cut him up" and he drove close while braking.The defendant claimed that the Vosa vehicle "cut him up" and he drove close while braking.
But Mr Preston told the trial Beniston was driving so close to the Honda that the prospect of an emergency stop was non existent.But Mr Preston told the trial Beniston was driving so close to the Honda that the prospect of an emergency stop was non existent.