A man from Lynemouth has been given a suspended prison sentence and a driving ban after pleading guilty to driving offences including using a mobile phone while driving.
On November 8, 2025, Ryan Doherty, 31, was stopped by police, who had noticed that he was using a mobile phone while driving. Initially providing the police with a fake name, he later gave his true identity, and admitted that the van had no insurance.
Police checks discovered that Doherty’s vehicle also had no MOT certificate, and that he had been banned from driving. The checks further revealed that Doherty was under a Community Order and was in the process of being placed in breach of that order, having failed to complete the unpaid work element. It emerged that he had three previous convictions for driving while disqualified and a conviction for driving while under the influence of alcohol.
At a hearing in South East Northumberland Magistrates’ Court on February 26, Doherty pleaded guilty to driving without insurance, driving without an MOT certificate, driving while disqualified and driving while using a handheld mobile phone. He was sentenced to 12 weeks in prison, suspended for 2 years, and given an 8-week curfew from 8 pm to 6 am. He was also disqualified from driving for a further 18 months.
Police are cracking down on mobile phone driving offences in a bid to improve the safety on our roads. If you are being investigated for any driving offence, our solicitors at Auriga Advocates will be able to offer you support and advice based on years of experience and expert knowledge of motoring law. Contact us now, and let’s see how we can help you defend your licence.