20 cans of lager then a drive in a JCB

The same model of vehicle stolen by Antony Lowe

AN OLDHAM man was caught driving a JCB truck down the middle of a road after downing 20 cans of lager.

Anthony Lowe (23) tried to flee on foot from the police officer who spotted him but after a short chase declared: “OK, I give up.”

The Higher Lime Road resident was sacked from his job as a window fitter but spared jail for his drunken spin in the construction vehicle.

The £20,000 yellow JCB lift truck with an extendable crane arm, owned by Mansell Construction, was being used on Balfour Beatty’s house-building site at Acacia Road, Limefield.

Oldham magistrates heard how the site was locked and secured, with the machinery kept inside the enclosure.

Police received a report of the vehicle being driven out of the site and PC Bolt, who was nearby, went to investigate at 4.45am on Sunday, June 9.

Mark Angus, prosecuting, said: “As the policeman entered Rowan Tree Road, he saw a yellow truck come out of a junction and straight into the middle of the road. It was dragging what looked to be a large plastic tub under the wheel.

“The cab was steamed up and there was one man inside, who we now know was the defendant.

“The policeman followed and as the truck continued into St Chads Crescent, it was swerving as it moved. The man attempted to follow the road but mounted the pavement.”

The court heard that the defendant got out of ther JCB when he spotted the officer in Lime Green Road but he was caught after a chase.

The court heard how Lowe, of Higher Lime Road, was almost three times over the legal drink drive limit.

He did not have a licence to drive the vehicle, permission or insurance.

Mr Angus added that Lowe had claimed the engine was running when he found the vehicle. He claimed his friends had dared him to drive it.

The crown alleged that Lowe had caused damage to the site fencing and to the cab to the tune of £600.

Graham Whittingham, defending, said that Lowe was a binge drinker and had been on medication for depression.

“He accepts he drove the JCB but says he came across it when it was already parked in the road and had been driven through the gates by someone else,” he added.

“There must be a reaction between his medication and alcohol which he’s well aware of.

“He was employed as a window fitter for five years but was sacked as a result of this offence.

“He is very remorseful for what’s happened and said it was biggest mistake of his life.”

Chairman of the bench, Joe Simon, told Lowe he thought it was a “stupid prank” that had gone wrong.

He added that the district judge who previously heard the case, had made a decision based on Lowe’s guilty plea and accepted that he did not cause damage to the JCB or the gates.

Lowe was given a suspended four-month prison term for taking the JCB without consent and four-months to run concurrently for driving with excess alcohol, suspended for 12 months.

He must also complete 100 hours of unpaid work and 12 sessions to address his alcohol abuse.

He is disqualified from driving for 24 months and must pay court costs of £85 plus a victim surcharge fine.