A man has been fined for riding his horse down a Northumberland road while drunk.
Garry Addision was causing an obstruction to other road users as he travelled through Prudhoe on his horse and cart. The 42-year-old was reported to police and an officer attended, a court was told.
However, Addison, who was on a suspended sentence at the time, continued to ride the animal along West Road until he was eventually apprehended. Addison still refused to cooperate with the officer and she ended up having to use PAVA spray on him in order to detain him.
Addison, of no fixed abode, has now been fined a total of £250 after he pleaded guilty to being drunk in charge of a horse and obstructing a police officer. District Judge Kate Meek said: “Quite frankly, it’s the first time I have come across a charge of a person being drunk in charge of a horse on a highway.
“You can see why it’s an offence because horses are big and powerful things. If you’re drunk, you’re not capable of controlling that horse and, if it does go out of control, it’s a danger to everyone around.”
Jonathan Stirland, prosecuting at Newcastle Magistrates’ Court, said the officer was asked to go to West Road on June 24 last year after motorists reported a man on a horse and carriage causing an obstruction by continuously stopping and starting.
Mr Stirland added: “The officer saw the defendant with a horse. The officer asked him to say who he was. He then rode the horse and carriage up the road while intoxicated.
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“It was clear he was intoxicated by his manner. The officer sought to stop him doing that. He was not cooperative. The officer followed in her vehicle and the defendant was eventually apprehended.”
The court heard Addison shouted abuse and resisted arrest, prompting the officer to use PAVA spray to detain him. Jonathan Cousins, defending, said: “Mr Addison was riding his horse home. Police wanted to speak to him. He rode off. He gets back on the horse.
“She follows him in her vehicle. He pulls up and, when the officer pulls in behind him, he’s on his mobile phone to his family trying to seek assistance with the horse or for someone to come and take it.
“He has stayed out of trouble since this.”