Runcorn DPD driver in court over Flintshire incident

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https://www.leaderlive.co.uk/news/25840 ... -incident/

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On what should have been an ordinary delivery round in Flintshire, a Runcorn-based DPD driver found himself at the centre of an incident that would eventually pull him into a courtroom and into the public eye.

Christopher Johnstone had been navigating the narrow lanes and tight driveways familiar to anyone who delivers parcels in rural North Wales. It was during one of these routine stops that his van clipped a set of metal gates at a private property. The impact, though noticeable to the homeowner, apparently went entirely unnoticed by Johnstone himself. He continued on his route, unaware that the brief moment of contact had left behind bent metal and a frustrated resident.

When the homeowner discovered the damage, they reported it, and the vehicle was quickly traced back to Johnstone. What might have been a simple exchange of details escalated into a legal matter because, under UK law, any driver involved in a collision causing damage must stop and report it — even if the damage seems minor or the driver believes it insignificant.

Weeks later, Johnstone found himself standing in Mold Magistrates’ Court. The prosecution argued that he had failed in his duty to stop and report the accident. The defence countered that he had genuinely been unaware of the collision — a claim not unheard of among delivery drivers who spend long days in large vans, often under pressure to meet demanding schedules.

The court heard that the fallout from the incident had left Johnstone in what was described as “a world of pain,” a phrase capturing the stress, uncertainty, and personal strain that had followed him since the day of the collision. The case highlighted the fine line delivery drivers walk: balancing speed and efficiency with the legal responsibilities that come with operating a commercial vehicle.

Though the reporting did not detail the final sentencing outcome, the hearing underscored how even a momentary lapse — or an unnoticed bump — can spiral into a legal ordeal.