Six-Month Ban for Driver After Van Smashes Through Level Crossing at Knaresborough

A van driver who initially claimed his dog was responsible for a runaway vehicle at a railway station has been disqualified from driving for six months after appearing in court.

Jody Lovatt, 49, admitted responsibility for the incident in Knaresborough on 10 July, when his van rolled away and smashed through level crossing barriers before colliding with a building. The crash caused more than £22,000 worth of damage and led to widespread rail disruption during the morning rush hour.

Lovatt had earlier told a BBC reporter at the scene that his French bulldog, Reggie, was to blame, suggesting the dog had chewed through part of the handbrake mechanism. He later withdrew that account. Earlier this month, he pleaded guilty to careless driving and to endangering the safety of people using the railway.

The court heard that Lovatt, who runs an aerial installation business, had been travelling to a job at about 06:40 BST when his van broke down near Knaresborough Station. While attempting to restart it, he became distracted after his dog “did a bit of a runner”. As he chased after the animal, the van began to roll downhill.

Prosecutor Kathryn Walters told the court the vehicle crashed through a gate at the level crossing next to the station before hitting a Grade II-listed Victorian signal box attached to a terraced house. The impact sent the gate flying on to the tracks and left the van with severe front-end damage, including a smashed bonnet.

Network Rail was forced to cancel nine services and partially cancel a further 14 trains between Harrogate and York, with another 11 delayed. The disruption cost the rail operator £16,147, while damage to the level crossing amounted to £6,313.

Lovatt, of Kirkby Malzeard, appeared at York Magistrates’ Court for sentencing, where he was fined £253 and given three penalty points. Those points took his total to 12, triggering an automatic driving ban.

Addressing the bench, Lovatt said:

"I wish I'd stayed in bed that day. From my point of view I was trying to do something right, but it's gone wrong, accidentally. If I could have done anything to stop it happening, I would have."

Lovatt told magistrates he had felt under pressure that morning due to “bad” traffic linked to the Great Yorkshire Show, combined with “the dog trying to jump out of the van” and the strain of an “awkward divorce”. He said the aftermath had left him with a “big claim on my insurance”, forced him to mothball his business and rely on state benefits, and caused significant “mental stress”, for which he was awaiting treatment.

He asked the court not to disqualify him, arguing that losing his licence would cause “exceptional hardship” because he lives in a small village with poor public transport and also acts as a carer for a female friend. Magistrates acknowledged his remorse and noted that no one was injured, but concluded that others would not suffer unduly as a result of him losing his licence.

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