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Court shown CCTV footage of driver who fitted his car with flashing blue lights in bid to beat traffic jams almost hitting cyclist

Martin Chapman initially told police he was delivering blood for NHS Blood Donation Service

A court has heard how a motorist who forced a cyclist to take evasive action as he drove on the wrong side of the road in a car fitted with flashing blue lights in a bid to beat traffic jams.

Footage of the incident captured by CCTV cameras on Cliftonville Road, Northampton, last July was shown at Martin Chapman’s trial at Northampton Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, reports the Daily Mail.

PC Ben Wilson of Northamptonshire Police told the court: “You can see the cyclist riding close to the solid white road markings and then clearly see his Astra come at speed with hardly any room for the cyclist to go anywhere.

“He [Chapman] goes through the junction the wrong side of the road. He approached the junction at such speed that he didn't give the cyclist a chance to move or the oncoming traffic to move.”

Chapman, aged 35, initially told police that he was delivering blood for the NHS Blood Donation Service.

He had been filmed using the lights, fitted to his Vauxhall Astra, on 38 separate occasions. However, he had no training to drive with them, nor was he using them for a genuine emergency.

Defending himself in court, he admitted five counts of using a vehicle fitted with a blue warning beacon without permission, and was also found guilty of dangerous driving, three counts of not following road markings, and five counts of driving while uninsured.

He told the court: “I accept it was me driving on each occasion. I am very remorseful of what I did and I appeal for your leniency.”

Shabbir Issat, prosecuting, said Chapman, from Long Buckby, was caught after another motorist spotted him using the lights.

“The member of the public said that it didn't seem right that the blue lights were flashing which is why they phoned the police,” he said.

“There is CCTV from July 6 where he is coming towards some lights and there are two lanes going one way and one lane going the other.

“There was a cyclist who had to take evasive action after Mr Chapman drove on the wrong side of the road.”

Jackie Shore, who chaired the magistrates trying the case, said that the dangerous driving offence was so serious the court had no power to sentence him, with the case referred to Northampton Crown Court for sentencing on 10 February.

Chapman was given an interim driving ban and told to pay £770 in costs.

Following today’s hearing, Janine Smith, chief crown prosecutor for CPS East Midlands said: “The rules of the road exist to protect people and keep everyone safe.

“Martin Chapman's possession of the blue light was a significant responsibility, which he abused on several occasions, putting other road users at risk.

“People who drive emergency vehicles with blue lights are specialists who have been specifically trained to drive in genuine emergencies conditions while ensuring the use of the blue lights and their speed is appropriate for the conditions.

She added: “It is not something that can be taken lightly. It is down to good fortune alone that nobody was hurt as a result of Mr Chapman's driving.”

Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.

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12 comments

Avatar
handlebarcam | 7 years ago
1 like

Whatever his final tally is when the higher courts have sentenced him, my estimate is 95% will be because of his disrespect for authority and 5% for nearly killing a cyclist.

Avatar
Jimmy Ray Will | 7 years ago
0 likes

What a legend... I am hoping the crown courts will look on his actions as dimmly as the magistrates court. 

 

Avatar
davel | 7 years ago
0 likes

Someone needs to make sure his blood donations are all up-to-date, capische

Avatar
burtthebike replied to Yorkshire wallet | 7 years ago
1 like

Yorkshire wallet wrote:

Is this the same Martin Chapman? I reckon so. Blood donations and all that. Scumbag.

https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/use_of_box_junctions_and_bus_lan_...

https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/activation_of_speed_red_light_ca_...

https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/speed_camera_red_light_activatio#...

Well, the dates, the name and the MO match, so almost certainly the same guy.  Looks as if he was trying for a loophole, but unfortunately, he forgot to book the right solicitor.

What is it the legal people say?  "A man who represents themselves has a fool for a client."  Don't think anyone could deny that.

Avatar
alansmurphy | 7 years ago
4 likes

Poor bloke, if he'd turned off the lights and killed the cyclist he would be £500 better off...

Avatar
racingcondor | 7 years ago
4 likes

Sounds a lot like the magistrates court doesn't have the power to give out the sentence they're going for so they've pushed the case up to the crown court and banned him in the mean time. So far, a great result.

Avatar
HalfWheeler | 7 years ago
4 likes

Should be 12+ months if it's going to the Crown court.

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WillRod | 7 years ago
6 likes

£770 for endangering the public, impersonating a police car and nearly mowing down a cyclist, not to mention jumping red lights?

 

the guy should have been strung up by his googlies and fined one heck of a lot more than that!

Avatar
steve8787 replied to WillRod | 7 years ago
10 likes

WillRod wrote:

£770 for endangering the public, impersonating a police car and nearly mowing down a cyclist, not to mention jumping red lights?

 

the guy should have been strung up by his googlies and fined one heck of a lot more than that!

The case is being referred to Northampton Crown Court for sentencing on the 10th of February. So its likely to be more. Well hopefully more. 

Avatar
beezus fufoon replied to WillRod | 7 years ago
6 likes

WillRod wrote:

£770 for endangering the public, impersonating a police car and nearly mowing down a cyclist, not to mention jumping red lights?

 

the guy should have been strung up by his googlies and fined one heck of a lot more than that!

that's not what it says

Avatar
WillRod replied to beezus fufoon | 7 years ago
0 likes

beezus fufoon wrote:

WillRod wrote:

£770 for endangering the public, impersonating a police car and nearly mowing down a cyclist, not to mention jumping red lights?

 

the guy should have been strung up by his googlies and fined one heck of a lot more than that!

that's not what it says

 

Just re read it...

hopefully he gets strung up by his googlies and gets a suitable fine etc when it comes to sentencing.

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