Five County Durham drivers banned and fined in court

All five drivers appeared at Peterlee Magistrates' Court last week and were banned from driving for varying lengths of time by the DVLA.

Here are the five drivers who faced punishment in court:

Mark Penman, 32, of Bryans Leap, Burnopfield, admitted to driving without third-party insurance and above the specified drug limit on October 13, 2023. He was found guilty on April 19, 2024, and is disqualified from driving for 12 months.

He is also required to pay a £120 fine, costs of £85 to the Crown Prosecution Service, and a surcharge of £48. Payments are ordered in monthly instalments of £50 starting May 3, 2024.

Kieran Carl Clarkson, 31, of Jack Lawson Terrace, Wheatley Hill, admitted to driving above the specified drug limit on October 7, 2023.

He was found guilty on April 19, 2024, and is disqualified from driving for 12 months. He is required to pay a £346 fine, costs of £85 to the Crown Prosecution Service, and a surcharge of £138.

Payments are ordered in monthly instalments of £100 starting May 3, 2024.

Andrew Gargett, 28, of Hawthorne Terrace, Shotton Colliery, admitted to driving above the specified drug limit on October 6, 2023.

In court, he was disqualified from driving for 12 months, required to pay a £120 fine, costs of £85 to the Crown Prosecution Service, and a surcharge of £48.

Jonathon Martin, 30, of Hawthorn Cottages, South Hetton, Durham, admitted to driving above the specified drug limit on October 12, 2023.

He was found guilty on April 19, 2024, and is disqualified from driving for 36 months.

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He is also required to pay a £120 fine, costs of £85 to the Crown Prosecution Service, and a surcharge of £48.

Steven Coyle, 63, of Earsdon Close, Denton, Newcastle, was found guilty of speeding on A1(M) motorway on June 16, 2023.

He was fined £133, ordered to pay costs of £110 and a victim surcharge of £53.

He was also disqualified from driving for six months.

Payments are ordered in monthly instalments of £30 starting May 16, 2024.