A Police Prosecutor alerted traffic cops after a man drove away from court having just received a six-month road ban for speeding offences.
Kalamehan Puvanathayatharan, 43, of Grove Road, Middlesbrough, appeared at Harrogate Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday (24 March 2026) where he got three additional points on his driving licence.
This was for speeding on Leyburn Road in Catterick Garrison.
It happened at 7.57pm on Wednesday 30 July last year, when he was clocked doing 37mph on a 30mph route in his blue VW Touran people carrier.
The defendant had already accumulated nine points on his licence due to previous speeding offences, so this offence took the tally up to 12 which amounted to an automatic disqualification.
As well as the six-month road ban, Puvanathayatharan was also ordered to pay a £176 fine.
Despite repeated warnings that the disqualification was effective immediately from the Police Prosecutor, Meg Fox, and from the magistrates and court staff, it was suspected that the defendant would choose to ignore it.
Mrs Fox ensured a report was made to the Force Control Room who were notified at 12.13pm. The Roads Policing Group was then tasked to stop the vehicle as Puvanathayatharan made his way back to Teesside.
At 12.27pm, PC Jack Dodsworth pulled the people carrier over as it headed north on the A168 near Dishforth.
The vehicle was seized and Puvanathayatharan had to make arrangement to travel home on public transport or taxi.
This latest incident is now under investigation.
Mrs Fox, a Police Prosecutor in North Yorkshire Police’s Criminal Justice Department, said:
The defendant displayed a blatant disregard for the law and road safety, and I was very pleased that my report led to a quick interception by the Roads Policing Group.
This a great example of the teamwork that we are proud to have at North Yorkshire Police. It is also a stark warning to defendants that people who work in courts are extremely vigilant by nature and will not hesitate to report suspected offences.
PC Dodsworth said:
This type of behaviour is shocking and demonstrates why the police, and the criminal justice system, must clamp down on offenders who willingly break the law and put the safety of others at risk. If you receive a disqualification from driving, it starts immediately.
We can all play our part in reporting suspicious activity. In this instance, the Police Prosecutor was certainly in the right place at the right time to alert us to the suspect.
