Man loses licence for walking dog while driving

Paul Railton, from Annfield Plain, Stanley, was driving on a country lane at five mph holding on to the lead of his pet lurcher while it walked alongside his Nissan Navara on December 4th 2009, reports the Press Association.

Police were alerted to the incident by a concerned cyclist.

Railton pleaded guilty of breaching the Road Traffic Act on two counts at Consett Magistrates’ Court. He was fined £124 and given three penalty points.

He had already accumulated nine points for other driving offences in the past three years so he was disqualified from driving for six months under the so-called totting-up system.

Speaking after the hearing Railton said: “It is a joke. I’m not bothered. I knew I would get three points. I might save myself some money not having a car.”