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Spotter plane called in to catch driver holding an apple
By Sally Pook
(Filed: 25/01/2005)
It took a year, 10 court hearings, a police helicopter, a spotter aircraft, a video camera and lots of public money to bring Sarah McCaffery to justice.
Her crime? Holding a Golden Delicious apple as she drove to work.
Miss McCaffery, 23, a nursery nurse, from Hebburn, South Tyneside, was fined £60 yesterday and ordered to pay £100 costs after a policeman saw her with the apple in her right hand as she made a left turn.
The Crown Prosecution Service denied that Northumbria Police had wasted time and money pursuing the case, claiming that it was in the public interest to prosecute Miss McCaffery for not being in control of her Ford Ka.
Miss McCaffery, who lives with her parents, had picked up the apple as she left for work in December 2003.
She put it on the passenger seat but it rolled on to the floor as she stopped at a junction. She picked it up.
"It was only a small apple and I had both hands on the wheel when I turned into the road," she told an earlier hearing. "I was in complete control of my car.
"I have been driving for more than three years and I have not had an accident."
Pc Lee Butler, who has 10 years' experience, told yesterday's hearing at South Tyneside magistrates' court that he had seen Miss McCaffery driving with her right hand by her face. He thought she might be using a mobile phone. When he stopped her he saw she was holding an apple and issued £30 fixed penalty ticket.
Geoffrey Forrester, defending, said the manoeuvre into the junction was carried out "perfectly".
The magistrates heard that when Miss McCaffery had the "temerity" to challenge the prosecution in court, which attracted publicity, the police used their helicopter and a fixed-wing spotter aircraft to film the junction as evidence, while a sergeant and a constable in a patrol car made a video.
Mr Forrester said: "This is all about trying to crush her because she stood up and said, 'This is silly.' The police and the CPS do not like to be told they are silly."
Chris Kay, prosecuting, said the cost of the case, not including the aerial photographs and video, was £425. The helicopter was not sent specifically to film the scene. It had been done in the course of another job and the cost was put at £66.
Ken Buck, the chairman of the bench, told Miss McCaffery: "We accept that there are times when you can drive with one hand but in holding an apple while negotiating a left-hand turn we consider you not to have been in full control."
The police defended the decision to use the aircraft and said they would take action against anyone eating or drinking while driving.
A spokesman said: "As the defendant chose to go to court, we were obliged to gather all appropriate evidence."
Miss McCaffery refused to comment as she left court.
Martin Callanan, the North East MEP, demanded an inquiry to establish whether police funds had been used appropriately.
http://www.telegraph...5/ixportal.html
By Sally Pook
(Filed: 25/01/2005)
It took a year, 10 court hearings, a police helicopter, a spotter aircraft, a video camera and lots of public money to bring Sarah McCaffery to justice.
Her crime? Holding a Golden Delicious apple as she drove to work.
Miss McCaffery, 23, a nursery nurse, from Hebburn, South Tyneside, was fined £60 yesterday and ordered to pay £100 costs after a policeman saw her with the apple in her right hand as she made a left turn.
The Crown Prosecution Service denied that Northumbria Police had wasted time and money pursuing the case, claiming that it was in the public interest to prosecute Miss McCaffery for not being in control of her Ford Ka.
Miss McCaffery, who lives with her parents, had picked up the apple as she left for work in December 2003.
She put it on the passenger seat but it rolled on to the floor as she stopped at a junction. She picked it up.
"It was only a small apple and I had both hands on the wheel when I turned into the road," she told an earlier hearing. "I was in complete control of my car.
"I have been driving for more than three years and I have not had an accident."
Pc Lee Butler, who has 10 years' experience, told yesterday's hearing at South Tyneside magistrates' court that he had seen Miss McCaffery driving with her right hand by her face. He thought she might be using a mobile phone. When he stopped her he saw she was holding an apple and issued £30 fixed penalty ticket.
Geoffrey Forrester, defending, said the manoeuvre into the junction was carried out "perfectly".
The magistrates heard that when Miss McCaffery had the "temerity" to challenge the prosecution in court, which attracted publicity, the police used their helicopter and a fixed-wing spotter aircraft to film the junction as evidence, while a sergeant and a constable in a patrol car made a video.
Mr Forrester said: "This is all about trying to crush her because she stood up and said, 'This is silly.' The police and the CPS do not like to be told they are silly."
Chris Kay, prosecuting, said the cost of the case, not including the aerial photographs and video, was £425. The helicopter was not sent specifically to film the scene. It had been done in the course of another job and the cost was put at £66.
Ken Buck, the chairman of the bench, told Miss McCaffery: "We accept that there are times when you can drive with one hand but in holding an apple while negotiating a left-hand turn we consider you not to have been in full control."
The police defended the decision to use the aircraft and said they would take action against anyone eating or drinking while driving.
A spokesman said: "As the defendant chose to go to court, we were obliged to gather all appropriate evidence."
Miss McCaffery refused to comment as she left court.
Martin Callanan, the North East MEP, demanded an inquiry to establish whether police funds had been used appropriately.
http://www.telegraph...5/ixportal.html
Keeping with the anti-police theme, I guess...
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