Accused banned from driving again

SYDNEY — A decision to take two of his children to a fast-food outlet has resulted in a North Sydney man being banned from driving for 10 years.

Justin Ryan Beddow, 40, of Pierce Street succumbed to the demands of his children for a treat and decided to drive them to a fast-food outlet on Oct. 11, 2019.

While en route, police observed a burned-out taillight on the vehicle and ordered Beddow to pull over. In checking his license, police discovered Beddow had been prohibited from driving the year previous for five years.

He was subsequently charged with driving while disqualified and was sentenced earlier this week. There was no indication

Beddow was under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time.

He was sentenced to complete a four-month conditional sentence followed by 12 months probation and banned from driving for 10 years.

A conditional sentence allows offenders to serve their time in the community, under strict conditions, as opposed to going to jail.

For the first two months of the sentence, Beddow is to remain under house arrest with exceptions for medical, legal, educational and counselling appointments along with a four-hour period once a week.

The following two months, he is to abide by a curfew. The court agreed to accept a conditional sentence in a bid to reduce offender population in provincial jails during a time of the global pandemic.

Among the conditions of his probation, Beddow is to refrain from alcohol and drugs and take all counselling as recommended by his probation officer.

Beddow’s past criminal record includes three convictions for impaired driving and another three for driving while disqualified.

He apologized to the court for his decision noting for the past year, he had been able to maintain his sobriety.