Uninsured Gateshead driver who crashed into Royal Mail wagon caught after number plate left at scene

[TrueBlueTerrier]

https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/no ... d-20890730

Daniel Wilkinson-Murphy, from Gateshead, crashed into a Royal Mail wagon

An uninsured and unlicensed driver who crashed into a Royal Mail wagon was traced after he left a key clue at the scene – his number plate.

Daniel Wilkinson-Murphy, 25, smashed into the left side of the van as he drove a hired Mercedes at Team Valley in Gateshead.

The new dad fled in the burgundy-coloured vehicle at 11.45pm after causing an impact that wrote off the £13,000 mail truck.

But one of his motor’s registration plates came off and was found by police soon after the accident on Friday, January 17 in 2020, a court heard.

The car was traced to a Newcastle hire company and the woman who had rented it told officers Wilkinson-Murphy had been at the wheel.

Wilkinson-Murphy, who became a father this month, gave magistrates in South Tyneside no explanation for the accident.

But he admitted full responsibility, telling them: “Last year was a bit of a bad year, there were bits of ups and downs.

“I’m a changed man now. I understand what I did was wrong. I’m sorry for what I’ve done.”

Prosecutor Leanne Duffy told the hearing: “The witness was driving a Royal Mail truck on Earlsway.

“He was aware of a vehicle coming up Eastern Avenue. There was then an impact on the left side of his vehicle.

“It was a burgundy Mercedes. It reversed and drove off.

“Police attended, and they found the registration plate. It was registered to WMA Vehicle Hire.

“Police posted a notice and were told the vehicle had been hired.

“They then sent a notice to the lady who had hired it and were told Wilkinson-Murphy had been driving.

“The Royal Mail truck had to be written off, it was for around £13,000.”


Wilkinson-Murphy, of Milton Square, Mount Pleasant, Gateshead, who hopes to soon start an apprenticeship, represented himself in court.

He pleaded guilty to failing to stop after an accident, driving without insurance and driving without a licence.


Gary Cracknell, chair of the bench, told him he would almost certainly have been breathalysed had he remained at the crash scene.

He adjourned the case for the preparation of a pre-sentence report, but said he did not think the offences crossed the custody threshold.

Wilkinson-Murphy will be sentenced at the same court on Friday, July 16.

[wallan]

No doubt the Hire Company will be after the Woman who Hired the car for the cost of repairs to there vehicle

[NWpostie]

When your name is on the hire sheet only you are authorised to drive and is responsible for it, anyone else using it, is uninsured and yet not responsible for the repairs.