A man has been found guilty after footage captured his dangerous driving which forced another motorist to steer towards a central reservation.
Philip Baxter, of Mortley Street, Kettering, was recorded via another driver's dash-cam heading down the A45 Nene Valley Way in Northampton on January 24 this year. In the video, Baxter's grey Toyota Land Cruiser can be seen undertaking another vehicle as they travelled on the westbound carriageway towards the Queen Eleanor junction.
Another motorist, who was driving in the right-hand lane, was seen flashing their headlights at Baxter. Following this, Baxter drove his vehicle across the carriageway which forced the other vehicle to steer close to the central reservation barrier.
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After reviewing the footage which was uploaded to the Force's Operation Snap online portal, police officers felt that it proved the 33-year-old had deliberately caused the other driver to take evasive action. During an interview with officers, Baxter claimed the vehicle had a mechanical defect which caused him to swerve.
Despite this, a trial held at Northampton Magistrates' Court on Tuesday, November 8, did not accept this excuse. Baxter was found guilty of dangerous driving and was disqualified from driving for 12 months - he will have to take an extended driving test after this period.
Baxter was also ordered to complete 100 hours unpaid community work and pay £545 costs and a £95 victim surcharge. PC Mo Allsopp-Clarke of Northamptonshire Police’s Safer Roads Team said: “Baxter pleaded not guilty to the offence, claiming his vehicle had a mechanical defect, which the magistrates’ did not accept.
“The video evidence clearly showed that he deliberately swerved into lane two, causing the other driver to take evasive action to avoid a collision. Baxter’s recklessness could have easily ended in tragic consequences, and I’m pleased the courts have dealt with him positively.”
The driver who submitted the dash-cam footage was also prosecuted for driving without due care and attention because the video footage revealed that they remained in the off-side lane prior to the incident when the nearside lane was clear.
The 59-year-old woman from Deene, near Corby, received a notice of intended prosecution and took the option to complete an education course. PC Allsopp-Clarke added: “The success of Operation Snap is down to the continued support from the public, who enable us to act against driving offences we otherwise wouldn’t see.
“Hopefully this case demonstrates that we take all instances of poor driving very seriously and we will prosecute offenders accordingly, which can only be a good thing to help keep our roads safer. However, it also serves as a reminder that we examine footage for evidence of offences by all parties.
"So, if you commit an offence as well as the person you’re reporting to us, you may face prosecution too. We will not overlook one offence to prosecute another.”
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