As the Essex County Daily Gazette Standard reports, in July of this year, 56-year old Cornel Lihu, who had been banned from driving, crashed into numerous listed buildings in Colchester Dutch Quarter.
The trucker reportedly came unstuck when trying to turn the corner from St Helen’s Lane to East Stockwell Street. As shown in Google Street View below, the street is very narrow and extremely difficult to navigate safely in an HGV hauling a trailer.
The area is of course subject to restrictions, and Colchester Magistrates’ Court heard of how the banned driver had ignored the restriction signs.
This was the scene in Colchester’s city centre after a driver subcontracted by M&S got wedged in the Dutch Quarter.
A court has now heard Cornel Lihu, 56, was banned from driving at the time and should never have got behind the wheel https://t.co/4Nj2fnLm9G
— Lewis (@lewis_adams) December 22, 2022
Lihu admitted to driving the lorry despite being banned. He was also uninsured, and pleaded guilty to driving without due care and attention.
The court sentenced the 56-year-old to 120 hours of community service. He must also pay costs and a surcharge amounting to £219, while another 6 points were added to his driving record.
As quoted by the Essex County Daily Gazette Standard, an M&S spokesman reacted to the news as follows:
“We are very sorry to local residents for any damage and inconvenience that was caused. The driver was not employed by M&S and the service provider we used on this occasion did not follow the strict processes we have in place. We have investigated and followed up with the service provider to make clear this is unacceptable and ensure this cannot happen again.”
Photo: © Copyright Kenneth Allen and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence (image cropped and used for illustrative purposes only)