Jail time for banned driver

Christopher Thane MacLeod sentenced to serve 60 days for driving one week before ban expired

A man who was caught behind the wheel a week before his driving ban expired was sentenced Thursday to 60 days in jail.

Christopher Thane MacLeod, 45, appeared before Judge John Douglas in provincial court in Charlottetown where he pleaded guilty to driving while prohibited.

The court heard Charlottetown police pulled MacLeod over on Feb. 17 because the vehicle he was in had an expired registration and a licence plate that didn’t belong to it.

“I’m real sorry for the poor judgment and wasting the court’s time with all this.” Christopher Thane MacLeod

They later realized he was prohibited from driving.

Defence lawyer Scott Barry told the court MacLeod’s driving prohibition was set to expire in a week when he was caught.

MacLeod had been abiding by the order, but took over driving from his girlfriend and was taking her to the hospital because she wasn’t feeling well, Barry said.

The court also heard MacLeod is a fisherman with a daughter and girlfriend who relied on him for work.

MacLeod has a record that includes several convictions for drunk driving and driving while prohibited.

“I’m real sorry for the poor judgment and wasting the court’s time with all this,” he said.

Along with the jail time, MacLeod is banned from driving for three years and must pay a $100 victim surcharge.