A serial drink-driver will spend Christmas behind bars after being caught by police twice in less than two weeks.

Matthew Morley, of Blenheim Way in Thetford, was already serving a driving ban when he was seen speeding in Beccles, Suffolk, on December 10.

The 32-year-old brought his Vauxhall Astra to a stop and then tried to run away when officers went to speak to him.

Officers found cannabis and an open beer can in the footwell of his car.

Checks revealed that Morley was uninsured and had previously been disqualified from driving following a crash on the A11 at Cringleford, Norfolk, on 2 December.

Morley pleaded guilty to driving whilst disqualified, driving without insurance, and possession of a Class B drug.

He was sentenced to 26 weeks’ imprisonment and disqualified from driving for 60 months. He was also ordered to pay £299 in costs and other charges.

Chief Inspector Vicky McParland, from the Joint Norfolk & Suffolk Roads & Armed Policing Team, said: “There is absolutely no excuse for this behaviour and it beggars belief that he can show such utter disregard for the safety of other road users and the law.

“Matthew Morley is a persistent offender, who was already subject to a driving ban and was awaiting sentence for previous offences.

"He demonstrated complete contempt and disregard for the legal process and left the court no option but to send him to prison.

“I hope the sentencing demonstrates the seriousness of driving under the influence and driving whilst disqualified."

https://www.itv.com/news/anglia/2023-12-18/drink-driver-caught-twice-in-nine-days-to-spend-christmas-in-jail

On 19/12/2023 01:59 pm, Simon Mason wrote:

> A serial drink-chav-cyclist will spend Christmas behind bars after being caught by police twice in less than two weeks.
>
> Matthew Morley, of Blenheim Way in Thetford, was already serving a driving ban when he was seen speeding in Beccles, Suffolk, on December 10.

Driving ban?

So he wasn't a driver. All he was (un-)qualified to use was a chav-bike
(well, OK, or a horse and cart).

Nothing more than a mere chav-cyclist.

A man from Norfolk has been jailed after being caught driving under the influence and fleeing arrest just eight days after he was disqualified.

Matthew Morley, 32, of Blenheim Way in Watton, was banned from driving after fleeing the scene of a crash on the A11 earlier this month.

At 2am on December 2, Morley failed to stop following the two-vehicle crash in Cringleford but was located by officers around 15 minutes later in Colney Lane, where he had parked, turned off his lights and was attempting to hide in his vehicle.
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Cannabis was found inside his vehicle and he was nearly twice the legal drink-driving limit so he was taken to Wymondham Police Station where he was charged.

He appeared at Norwich Magistrates' Court two days later where he pleaded guilty to six offences which included driving while disqualified, driving without due care and attention, driving without insurance, failing to stop after an accident and possession of a Class B drug.

Sentencing was adjourned until February 9 and he was further disqualified from driving.

But just before 8.40am on December 10, officers from the joint Norfolk & Suffolk Roads & Armed Policing Team (RAPT) encountered a Vauxhall Astra that appeared to be driving too fast and erratically in Beccles town centre.

While following the vehicle, officers discovered it was uninsured and waited until it parked in New Market to speak to the driver who was walking away..

Eastern Daily Press: Matthew Morley, 32, of Blenheim Way in Thetford, was already banned from driving when he was arrestedMatthew Morley, 32, of Blenheim Way in Thetford, was already banned from driving when he was arrested (Image: Suffolk Police)

The driver, Morley, then began to run and the officers detained him following a foot chase.

He then failed a roadside drug wipe and was found to be disqualified from driving, as well as cannabis and an open beer can being found in the Astra's footwell.

Morley was arrested and taken to Martlesham Police Station where a sample of blood was taken for analysis.

Appearing at Ipswich Magistrates' Court the following day, he was sentenced to 26 weeks in jail and disqualified from driving for 60 months. He was also ordered to pay £299 in costs and other charges.

Chief Inspector Vicky McParland, the head of RAPT, said: "There is absolutely no excuse for this behaviour and it beggars belief that he can show such utter disregard for the safety of other road users and the law.

"Matthew Morley is a persistent offender, who was already subject to a driving ban and was awaiting sentence for previous offences.

"He demonstrated complete contempt and disregard for the legal process and left the court no option but to send him to prison.

"I hope the sentencing demonstrates the seriousness of driving under the influence and driving while disqualified."

https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/23997235.matthew-morley-thetford-jailed-ipswich-arrest/

On 19/12/2023 05:26 pm, Simon Mason wrote:

> A totally-unqualified chav-cyclist from Norfolk has been jailed after being caught driving under the influence and fleeing arrest just eight days after he was disqualified.

[snipped repetitive material]
These totally-unqualified and unlicenced chav-cyclists, eh?

They just don't care about anyone but themselves, do they?

A man who was convicted of drink-driving at the beginning of this month has been jailed after being caught driving whilst disqualified.

Matthew Morley, 32, of Blenheim Way, Thetford, was seen driving in Beccles on Sunday, December 10, just eight days after his original conviction.

He appeared at Suffolk Magistrates’ Court, in Ipswich, on Monday, December 11 and was sentenced to 26 weeks in prison, as well as being disqualified from driving for five years.

Officers from Norfolk and Suffolk Roads and Armed Policing Team (NSRAPT) encountered Morley driving a Vauxhall Astra erratically in Beccles town centre on December 10 at around 8.40am.

Police followed the vehicle and found it was uninsured, and when Morley pulled up in New Market he ran away as officers tried to speak to him.

He was detained a short time after, failed a roadside drug wipe and was found to be disqualified from driving. Cannabis and an open beer can were recovered from his vehicle.

Morley was transported to Martlesham PIC where a blood sample was taken due to the failed drug wipes, and he remains under investigation for this offence pending the results.

Morley’s disqualification stemmed from an incident on Saturday, December 2 in Cringleford, Norfolk, on the A11.

Police were called to reports of a two-vehicle collision at 2am, and he failed to stop following this crash but was found 15 minutes later despite attempts to hide in his vehicle.

After this incident he pleaded guilty to six offences at Norwich Magistrates’ Court on December 4, including driving with excess alcohol, failing to stop after an accident, driving whilst disqualified, driving without due care and attention, driving without insurance and possession of a Class B drug, namely cannabis.

Sentencing for these charges was adjourned until February 9, but in the wake of the Beccles incident Morley was sentenced on December 11.

Eighteen weeks of Morley’s sentence stem from driving whilst disqualified on December 10, with the possession of drugs on the same day resulting in a three week sentence to run concurrently.

The five year driving ban stems from the drink-driving incident on December 2, as well as a concurrent sentence of four weeks.

Morley was also sentenced to eight weeks in prison to be served consecutively after prior Community Order he was subject to was revoked in respect of assault and criminal damage offences. This brought the total custodial time to 26 weeks.

Chief Inspector Vicky McParland, Head of the Joint Norfolk & Suffolk Roads & Armed Policing Team (NSRAPT), said: “There is absolutely no excuse for this behaviour and it beggars belief that he can show such utter disregard for the safety of other road users and the law.

“Matthew Morley is a persistent offender, who was already subject to a driving ban and was awaiting sentence for previous offences.

“I hope the sentencing demonstrates the seriousness of driving under the influence and driving whilst disqualified.”

Morley was also ordered to pay £299 in costs and other charges.

On 19/12/2023 05:33 pm, Simon Mason wrote:

> A fully-unqualified chav-cyclist [no driving licence, no insurance, no concern for anyone but himself - every attribute one could reasonably expect of a chav-cyclist] who was convicted of drink-driving at the beginning of this month has been jailed after being caught driving whilst disqualified.

And?

QUOTE: He was detained a short time after, failed a roadside drug wipe and was found to be disqualified from driving. Cannabis and an open beer can were recovered from his vehicle. ENDS

Good job that Lieutenant Frank Columbo was on duty that day. :-)

Tough case to crack, that one!