"catch Me If You Can Man" - Contempt Of Court?

[LazyGun]

This story caught my eye in the independent, partly because it involves the Audi R8 Spyder :)

A couple of things puzzled me; He is quoted as saying that he plans to carry on driving, and that they are welcome to "attempt to catch him if they can". Would this not be considered contempt of court, and if so, is it surprising that his sentencing was not amended to reflect that?

And secondly- how the heck does someone unemployed find the gelt to rent an Audi R8 Spyder? I am so in the wrong profession :)

[naomi24]

Link?

[Stephen_G]

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/man-caught-driving-165mph-tells-court-which-banned-him-catch-me-if-you-can-8740271.html

[jno]

haven't seen the story. But "contempt of court" isn't really contempt, it's more to do with disobeying clear orders about justice procedures, such as idiot jurors googling defendants and sharing their findings with the rest of the jury. Just saying "I'm going to break the law" isn't actionable in itself unless it involves threats, for instance ("I'm ging to kill you.")

[Hopkirk]

Well he won't be able to rent a car without a licence.

[naomi24]

Thanks Stephen.

LG, 'surprising' is an understatement - it's a travesty!

[LazyGun]

Oops! Completely forgot the link, unusually. Thanks Hopkirk - thats the story...

[Hopkirk]

Don't thank me, thank Stevie G

[LazyGun]

Sheesh! Making a lot of errors tonight. Sorry Steve and thanks for posting the link :)

[Gromit]

// Liverpool magistrates’ court heard that Shiad Mahmoon, 24, was spotted going at an average of 144mph-165mph //

You're going to be in trouble for posting about an ethnic's criminality before AOG has had time to.

[mikey4444]

This man needs to be put into prison for three years, not banned from driving.

[mikey4444]

I have just noticed that this tw*t was caught in June 2011. Does anyone know why this has taken 2 years before coming to court ?

[FredPuli43]

It's not contempt of court any more than saying that you won't pay the fine would be. It just means that he'll have nothing to say by way of excuse when next he gets caught driving. And that will mean jail.

[LazyGun]

OK - it seems I do not understand the term "contempt of court" then. It just surprised me that such contemptuous view of the Court and its powers -publically expressed - went unpunished; I had always thought that Courts took a very dim view of expressed views that challenged their reputation and image.

[FredPuli43]

Telling the court that you intend to continue driving whilst disqualified is just stupid. If the man had yelled out that the judge is a stupid bastard, that would be contempt. His Honour Judge Calman had an answer to that. He had the defendant brought back up and told him " Tonight, I am going home to a loving wife and family. I will have an excellent meal with some drinks and a comfortable bed. You are going to a prison cell, where you will remain for months, because of your own actions. Now, think again. Which one of us is really a stupid bastard? Take him down!" LOL

[New Judge]

Yes I agree with Fred - not really contempt of court and not something Magistrates would want to waste court time on.

However, having read a description of the incident the question that really needs to be asked is why Mr Mahmoon was not charged with dangerous driving as his behaviour clearly was "far below that of a careful and competent driver". Then he may have faced a custodial sentence whereas for speeding - however fast - he could not.