Stephen Montagu managed to retain his driving license despite admitting guilt to driving over a level crossing without due care and attention. Montagu, driving his white DAF truck at Onibury on December 9, 2022, confessed that he hadn’t realized he had crossed the level crossing and passed red lights.
During the hearing at Telford Magistrates Court, Shahidur Rahman, the prosecutor, explained that the signal box operator had initiated the lowering of the level crossing barriers. Montagu’s truck forced a halt in the closure process to prevent the barriers from hitting the vehicle. Montagu claimed he only became aware of his violations after receiving evidence from the Crown Prosecution Service. He stated that he had retired from DHL and was seeking employment with the Royal Mail, contingent upon his license points.
Montagu, emphasizing his error in judgment, assured the court of his accident-free driving history.
At the time of the incident, he had six points on his license for speeding, which had lapsed subsequently. The presiding justice, Carol Scott, issued Montagu a warning, adding five points to his license. She cautioned him that he was just one point away from losing his license and emphasized the importance of careful driving.
Due to Montagu’s sole income being the state pension, a reduced fine of £108 was imposed. Additionally, he was ordered to pay a £43 victims surcharge and prosecution costs of £300, as he hadn’t pleaded guilty earlier. There was no separate penalty for the offense of failing to comply with a red light. Montagu was granted the option to make monthly payments to settle the £451 owed to the Crown.
