Labour’s deputy leader reversed into a parked car after visiting residents of a south London tower block who had been made homeless in a fire that killed six people last July. She was reported to police by the car’s owner, who was watching from a window.
It was her third driving offence in three years and there was speculation that she might lose her licence under the “totting up procedure”, which requires that courts issue an automatic six-month driving ban to anyone who gains 12 penalty points over a three-year period.
However, after submissions by her legal team, Miss Harman was given three points, to add to the six points on her licence, and a £350 fine.
Legal experts said she had got off lightly because she was charged with only one offence, rather than two for causing an accident and driving while on the phone.
Nick Freeman, the lawyer nicknamed “Mr Loophole” for his ability to secure reduced penalties for clients, said: “She has been treated incredibly leniently. If she was my client, I would consider it a fantastic result.”
Miss Harman, 59, was at a Cabinet meeting and did not attend yesterday’s hearing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court.
Her lawyer, Mark Haslam, told District Judge Nicholas Evans: “This is a parking matter that took place in a very short time span and at a very slow speed — less than 5mph. There were no injuries, no damage caused and no insurance claim by either party.”
The court heard that Miss Harman already had six points on her licence for speeding in 30mph zones in April 2007 and April 2008.
After the case, a spokesman for the Cabinet minister said: “Miss Harman is pleased that it has been established that this was not a 'hit and run’ accident as portrayed in some media reports. It was a parking incident and no damage was done.”
A CPS spokesman said that she had been treated “no differently to anyone else”.
News Source :- http://www.telegraph.co.uk
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