Pickup truck is seized and Plymouth driver is jailed in police crackdown

A disqualified driver and repeat offender has been jailed for two months after being stopped by officers in Plymouth. The man, who has previous convictions for dangerous driving and failing to stop for police, was caught by officers during a clampdown on rogue traders. Plymouth police officers joined forces with the roads police team and the council’s trading standards officers on Wednesday (September 9).

Utilising automatic number plate recognition and local knowledge, police stopped numerous vehicles linked to rogue trader reports and those suspected to be involved in the supply of counterfeit products. A Ford Ranger pickup truck was ‘top of the list’ for officers, who received information that it was being driven by a disqualified driver with previous convictions for dangerous driving and failing to stop. Officers in an unmarked vehicle waited for the Ranger to stop, and the driver was detained.

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Devon and Cornwall Police’s dedicated ‘No Excuse’ team said: “He tried to give false details but soon changed his mind when we called him by his first name, the fingerprint reader made an appearance around the same time so perhaps he realised the game was up.”

The man was arrested and charged on the same afternoon.

He remained in custody to be put before the magistrates’ court on Thursday morning, where he pleaded guilty to the offences and was jailed for eight weeks.

The Ranger was seized for being driven without a licence and insurance.