Blind drink-driver took partner's car without permission and travelled 150 miles using lorry lights as his guide

By RICHARD MARSDEN, GENERAL REPORTER and CRAIG MCGLASSON Published: 17:09, 31 July 2026 | Updated: 17:29, 31 July 2026 A man who is registered blind took his partner’s car without permission and drove for 150 miles – despite being over the drink-drive limit, a court heard today. Anthony Hall, 49, was stopped while behind the wheel of a Vauxhall Meriva on the M6 northbound, near Carlisle, at 1.45am on Monday, June 29. He told police he followed lorry lights, magistrates heard. Suresh Basra, prosecuting, said: ‘Mr Hall is registered blind. He doesn’t have a driving licence. He is not allowed to drive.  'He took the vehicle in question, I believe, from a partner without permission. He had driven some 150 miles from Huddersfield.’ A police officer was given the job of looking out for the vehicle after it was reported by concerned motorists.  He observed the Meriva drifting on to the hard shoulder and from lane one to two, Mr Basra said. He told Carlisle Magistrates’ Court: ‘(The officer) has stopped the vehicle, spoken to Mr Hall and asked whether he had consumed alcohol. He said "yes". He said he went blind about two years ago. Hall, 49, told police he navigated by following HGV tail lights but was caught driving erratically ‘He was asked how he managed to drive. He said he was just following HGV lights.’ The prosecutor added: ‘It is a prolonged and persistent course of dangerous driving - a deliberate decision to ignore the rules of the road.’ Mr Basra said it was ‘miraculous’ there were no injuries nor damage caused during the course of the defendant’s criminal conduct. Hall, of Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, provided a positive roadside breath specimen. An evidential police station sample showed 46 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal driving limit is 35 mcg. Hall pleaded guilty to five offences including dangerous driving and drink-driving In court, Hall - who entered wearing dark glasses and using a white stick - pleaded guilty to five offences: dangerous driving, taking a vehicle without consent, drink-driving, no insurance and driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence. Defence solicitor Adele Graham asked for the case to be adjourned for preparation of a probation service pre-sentence report. She said: ‘There are a lot of circumstances, I would submit, that do need to be considered before passing sentence - a lot of personal circumstances surrounding Mr Hall’s life and background.’ Magistrates adjourned the case for a report. Hall is due to be sentenced at Huddersfield Magistrates’ Court on September 8. In the meantime Hall has been handed an interim driving ban, despite him having no licence. Dangerous driving carries a mandatory disqualification and he could also face jail or a community sentence. The precise length of Hall’s ban is to be fixed at the sentencing hearing.