Our client, a professional bus driver, faced charges of driving without due care and attention, using a mobile phone while driving, and failing to stop for the police. A conviction would have had serious consequences for his career, as his livelihood depended on maintaining his driving licence within the applicable penalty point threshold.
The prosecution’s case appeared particularly strong. Body-worn camera footage showed our client colliding with a police vehicle and failing to stop when instructed. On the face of the evidence, the prospects of conviction on all three charges were significant, placing his employment and future career at considerable risk.
Recognising the strength of the prosecution’s evidence, our team acted swiftly on the day of the hearing to protect the client’s career. We negotiated with the Crown Prosecution Service, offering guilty pleas to the mobile phone and careless driving charges in exchange for the complete drop of the failure to stop offence. The prosecution agreed, and we presented the case to the District Judge, highlighting the severe impact a disqualification or high point penalty would have on our client’s job. The district judge took his employment into account, endorsing his licence with just 6 penalty points alongside a heavily reduced financial penalty. This exceptional result kept our client within the legal limits to continue working as a bus driver, saving his career.