[A] MOTORIST sentenced by a judge after crashing into a family of five’s vehicle has appeared in court again after flouting his punishment for a second time.
John Anthony Rumney, 23, was originally handed a suspended prison term, unpaid work and ordered to undergo rehabilitation for offending last August which included dangerous driving.
Carlisle Crown Court heard Rumney was behind the wheel of a defective Citroen, and on the wrong side of a coastal road between Maryport and Silloth, when it ploughed into the family’s vehicle in the early hours. The female driver, travelling with her husband and three young children, suffered slight injuries and later told police: “I was angry that my family were put in such danger.”
Rumney was brought back to court in December, avoided prison and was handed extra unpaid work for flouting the order once. But he was back in front of a judge today (FRI), admitting more poor progress which could have triggered the jail term.
Barrister Tim Evans said the probation service had concluded there was a “wilful and persistent non-compliance” by Rumney who had, they believed, “demonstrated a blatant disregard for court orders”.
But, hearing Rumney had a permanent job offer and was “sorry” for his latest breach, Recorder Kevin Grice deferred passing sentence until September 7. On that date he will reassess Rumney’s commitment to the original punishment.
“This is your responsibility and nobody else’s,” Recorder Grice told Rumney, of Eden Street, Silloth. “So it is up to you.”
