LONG MOTORING BAN FOR FORMER COUNCIL LEADER FOLLOWING DRINK-DRIVING CONVICTION

A FORMER leader of North East Lincolnshire Council has been banned from the roads for 28 months following his conviction for drink-driving.

Ray Oxby was prosecuted after an incident in February this year in which he reversed his car into the garden wall at his home in New Waltham.

Following a tip-off, police were called, and after having been breathalysed, the defendant was found to have 224mg of alcohol in 100ml of blood - the legal limit being 80mg.

Appearing before Grimsby magistrates, he admitted the offence and was additionally order to pay a fine and court costs amounting to more than £1,000.

The Bench heard mitigating evidence that, as Labour leader, he had been under intense personal strain, having encountered social media abuse over his commitment to the controversial scheme for the roundabout at Waltham roundabout to be replaced with traffic lights - a decision since rescinded by NELC's current Conservative controlling group.

Soon after his arrest, Mr Oxby (63) resigned both as leader of the council and as one of the authority's representatives for Grimsby's South Ward. He said he was looking forward to spending more time with his grandchildren.

Prior to being elected, he had served for a time on New Waltham parish council. Before that, he had been one of NELC's most senior officer - Director of Environment.

Popular with colleagues when he was at NELC, he is understood to enjoy fell-walking and is also a fan of the music of American rock star, Bruce Springsteen.