Jockey, Joe Colliver, has been recently charged with drink driving and was due to attend Harrogate Magistrates Court on 14th March 2019.
However, also on the 14th March 2019, Joe Colliver was due to ride ‘Sam Spinner’ in the 15:30 race on day three at Cheltenham.
Mr Colliver’s lawyers applied to the court requesting that the hearing be postponed in order for Mr Colliver to be able to compete in the race.
Mr Colliver was due to race for trainer, Jedd O’Keeffe, who when questioned about the jockey’s drink driving charge, stated the following:
“I am not prepared to judge him until I know the outcome of the hearing, that would be grossly unfair”
“As regards the latest incident, the drink driving, being honest about it there are a lot of good people that have been caught for drink driving. But it is the law of the land. The door is very much open for him here.”
Fortunately for Mr Colliver, the presiding magistrate held that racing at Cheltenham was a fair reason to postpone the hearing. Therefore Mr Colliver who was due to face a court hearing for drink driving, instead raced in the 15:30 at Cheltenham, finishing second place out of 18 horses.
Should Mr Colliver plead guilty at his rearranged court hearing he faces sentence for a penalty that ranges from mandatory minimum ban of 12 months going up to as high as 36 months. Alongside a ban he will face a fine, community order or even prison sentence depending on how high the level of alcohol detected in his system was.
What you should do if charged with drink driving
At Stephensons we specialise in matters of motoring law and our specialist lawyers can provide you with advice in relation to defending or mitigating drink driving offences.
To speak with a member of the motoring team, please contact us on 01616 966 229.
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