Anthony Hall: Blind man who drove 240km to Cumbria while drunk on major motorway faces UK court
A court was told the driver managed the 240km journey by following the tail lights of semi-trailers in front of his vehicle.
A blind man who drove 240km on a major motorway after sharing four bottles of wine with his partner has been sentenced by a UK court.
UK police spotted Anthony Michael Hall, in the early hours of June 29 this year driving erratically on a major highway on his way to Cumbria in northeast England, according to a court report by Metro UK.
During his sentencing appearance at Kirklees Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday prosecutors alleged that Hall managed the feat by following the tail lights of northbound semi-trailers and trucks in front of his vehicle on the M6.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.The court also heard that the 50-year-old had never had a drivers’ licence.
Prosecutor Damian Walsh alleged that police received reports on June 29 about a vehicle being driven by a blind man who was under the influence at the time.
Officers subsequently found Hall behind the wheel of a vehicle allegedly “weaving around” near a junction on the M6 motorway not far from the border to Scotland, the court heard.
Walsh told police that he had been drinking and despite having legally lost his sight two years ago, could still make out some light - which was how he managed to tail semi-trailers on the road for 240km from his home in Huddersfield.
The court was told he was in his partner’s vehicle, which he had taken without her permission.
Hall’s astonishing journey even included a stop at a petrol station where his car was refuelled.
He also admitted to police that before taking his vehicle from his partner, they had both consumed a total of four bottles of wine.
In his previous court appearance Hall pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, taking a vehicle without the owner’s consent, drink-driving, driving without a licence and driving without insurance.
In his defence, the court was told Hall was at the time going through a breakdown and was suffering psychological distress.
He was handed a 36-week jail sentence, suspended for a year and a half. He was also handed a mandatory alcohol rehabilitation program over a 10-day period and will also be subject to alcohol monitoring for a three-month period.
