Police lights driver is fined

A driver who was arrested at a notorious boy racing hotspot with imitation police lights and a siren fitted to his black BMW was fined £625.

Stephen Graham was arrested by police on Williams Street in West Bromwich on June 19, near to the Charles Street industrial estate which has been plagued by speeding drivers.

Mrs Rachael Smith, prosecuting at Sandwell Magistrates Court yesterday said: "On June 19, at 10.11pm, police received an anonymous report of a black BMW stopping cars, with the driver identifying himself as a police officer.

"As police got closer to Williams Street, they were flagged down by motorists, saying a BMW was parked up with sirens on and flashing its lights.

"The prosecution cannot however trace the witnesses so he has not been charged with impersonating a Pc."

She added Graham had two blue lights on his front grill, which flashed in sequences, and more flashing lights in the boot.

Graham, aged 36, pleaded guilty to having the fittings, but insisted they were only for display purposes, saying he had never impersonated an officer.

He also admitted driving without insurance after it emerged the fittings voided his insurance cover.

Graham, of Ash Tree Drive, Redditch, representing himself, said the lights and siren machine were not connected to the battery at the time he was driving.

He told the court his car overheated and when he returned with water, it had disappeared.

He added: "I reported it stolen but found out police had seized it. I had been fined £190 for having the lights 12 months ago, and hadn't driven the car for six months before getting it re-taxed two days before. I'd just been lazy taking the fittings off and only had them for show purposes."

Magistrates said Graham deserved a fine for ignoring his previous conviction.

He was fined £325 for having no insurance, £100 for fitting the imitation light, a further £100 for the siren machine and ordered to pay £85 costs and a victim surcharge. He also had six points added to his licence.