Home / Crime and Justice / Dog blamed for van crash, driver banned
Dog blamed for van crash, driver banned
28 Jan
Summary
- Van crashed into a Victorian signal box, causing major damage.
- Driver blamed his dog for chewing the handbrake, later retracted.
- Rail services were cancelled and delayed, costing thousands.
A six-month driving ban has been issued to Jody Lovatt, 49, after his van crashed through level crossing barriers and struck a building in Knaresborough on July 10th. The incident caused over £22,000 in damage, including £6,313 to the level crossing and £16,147 in disruption costs to Network Rail, which had to cancel or delay multiple train services.
Lovatt initially claimed his French bulldog, Reggie, had chewed through the handbrake, a story he later withdrew. He pleaded guilty to careless driving and endangering railway safety at York Magistrates' Court. The court heard Lovatt was on his way to a job when the van rolled away as he attempted to retrieve his dog, which had "did a bit of a runner."
During sentencing, Lovatt expressed remorse and cited personal hardships, including an "awkward divorce" and the impact on his business, which he had to close. He argued for an exemption from the ban due to "exceptional hardship," citing poor public transport in his village and his role as a carer. Magistrates acknowledged his remorse but found that others would not suffer disproportionately from his disqualification.
