Nottinghamshire Live readers have joined calls for the county's police and crime commissioner to resign after she was caught speeding five times. Caroline Henry says she's 'very ashamed' after previously pleading guilty to several speeding offences.
Henry spoke at a recent meeting but declined to discuss the matter or take questions because she is yet to be sentenced for the offences, and wants "to avoid any possible interference with the judicial outcome of the case". She told the meeting she expected the case to conclude in six weeks times.
Many of our readers called on the 52-year-old to resign, drawing comparisons between her situation and the one faced by Boris Johnson, who also refused to resign after breaking lockdown laws. One user wrote: "Just like the PM - thinks saying sorry, I’m ashamed etc for being caught FIVE times will suffice! She should be banned!"
Another wrote: "She doesn't need to apologise! She needs to resign!" and one user said: "On £76k+ a year she can pay £35k for a chauffeur - trouble is the conviction could lose her the job anyway."
Others were less critical, writing: "Hardly crime of the century, you're allowed to drive 3 or 4 mph above the limit anyway."
What do you think? Should Caroline Henry resign over her speeding convictions? Have your say in our comments section here.
Henry, who is married to Conservative MP for Broxtowe, Darren Henry, was asked about her commitment to reducing speeding during the meeting. She said: "We know we have got to get speeding down and do more - including catching people and prosecuting people for speeding."
Henry responded: "There are about 100,000 people in Nottinghamshire each year that break the speed limit and out of those 40,000 are entitled to a speeding awareness course. As part of the next round of my community grants there will be an opportunity for people to bid in to do community speedwatch. I am absolutely committed to doing this."
During her last court hearing Henry's barrister, Noel Philo, argued that sentencing should be dealt with by a district judge and that two of the incidents should be challenged under ‘special reasons’. If special reasons are proved, it could prevent some of a potential 15 points being added to Mrs Henry’s licence.
A total of 12 or more penalty points on a driving licence can result in a ban from driving of a minimum of six months. You can debate the issue in our comments
