Men convicted of breaching cruising ban order
Two men have been convicted of breaching an injunction banning car cruising in the Black Country.
Robert Darby, aged 25, of Wordsley, and Mark Guest, 35, of Tipton, admitted contempt of court after participating in a car cruise in Wolverhampton last October.
On Thursday, the High Court, sitting at Birmingham, heard that the incident occurred on the Black Country Route in the Springvale area of the city on Sunday October 25. When police arrived, they witnessed a gathering of around 30 vehicles and at least 20 people standing around. The court heard Darby was driving one of the vehicles and Guest was his passenger.
Police said that, had they not arrived when they did, road racing would have taken place.
Darby and Guest admitted contempt of court by breaching the injunction and were sentenced to 28 days imprisonment suspended on terms that they comply with the injunction for as long as it remains in force.
They were also each ordered to pay £443.63 to Wolverhampton Council's costs.
This week's case was brought by the council and presented by its legal services solicitor-advocate with the support of West Midlands Police.
It was the first breach to be prosecuted by the authority.
Councils in the Black Country worked with police to secure the injunction from the High Court, which came into force in February 2015.
It bans people from taking part in a car cruise within Wolverhampton, Dudley, Sandwell and Walsall – or from promoting, organising or publicising any car cruising event in those areas.
