Drivers in the dock at Suffolk Magistrates this week.

Magistrates convicted three drivers for driving violations, including one who stopped to pick up their pet’s toy.

Paul Blowers, 39, was first in the dock at Suffolk Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday. He admitted to failing to reply to letters delivered to his residence following a collision in October last year.

Blowers, of Waveney Drive, Lowestoft, was driving his van down Spexhall Way in Lowestoft when he collided with a parked car and drove away without stopping. The court heard that Blowers was later identified through police investigations.

Blowers received notices, but did not respond. Blowers told the court that he had left the address.

On the day of the accident, he stated that his dog was in the vehicle with him and had dropped its ball. Blowers claimed he reached to pick up the ball and “twanged” the parked automobile. “I did something wrong, and I will accept the consequences.

I apologies for any inconvenience,” Blowers informed the presiding magistrates. Blowers, of Marston Lane, Norwich, was fined £550 and ordered to pay a £220 surcharge and £110 in court costs, for a total of £880. His licence was endorsed with six points.

The following case involved Steven Dean, who pleaded guilty by post to driving without due care and attention but was not present in court.

The magistrates were informed that Dean, 57, was driving his Audi along the Bury Road in Kennett when he came to a crossroads.

Dean did not have priority and drove out into the path of a Volkswagen Golf, which witnesses claimed “did not have time to react”. The Golf driver, an 88-year-old male, shattered his sternum in the subsequent crash and spent five days in the hospital.

Dean stated in court that he had been dazzled by the winter sun to his right and had not noticed the Golf.

He stated that he did his utmost to accelerate out of the past as he discovered his error, but he completely accepted that he should not have approached the junction.

He described the occurrence as a “genuine, momentary, and uncharacteristic mistake” that he “deeply regrets”. Dean was fined £840 and ordered to pay a £336 surcharge and £110 court costs, for a total of £1286. His licence was endorsed with five points.

Jack Seaton also acknowledged to driving without proper care and attention.

On December 16, last year, the 19-year-old was driving down Sudbury Road in Newton when he went over the middle road and collided with another vehicle, a Ford Transit.

Witnesses told the court that Seaton was following a slight bend in the road and ended up in the opposite carriageway.

The witnesses did not believe Seaton was exceeding the 30-mile-per-hour speed limit. When questioned, Seaton, of Maxim Lane, Clare, stated he couldn’t recall what had transpired.

New drivers who get six or more penalty points within the first two years of completing their driving test may have their licence automatically revoked.

In mitigation, his attorney described the occurrence as “an accident” and informed the court that Seaton was a “frontline NHS worker” who need his licence to continue travelling to Colchester Hospital.

Imposing points on his licence, she claimed, would practically ruin his career in the NHS.

The magistrates opted not to inflict points on Seaton’s licence. Instead, he was fined £268 and told to pay a £107 surcharge and £110 court costs, totalling £485.

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