Councillor in court due to 'misunderstanding' over car

Wesley Holmes

13 November 2024 at 1:00 pm·2-min read

Rainhill South Ward councillor Kate Stevenson-Black outside Wirral Magistrates Court — -Credit: (Image: Reach Publishing Services Limited)

A councillor landed in court due to a "misunderstanding". Kate Stevenson-Black, 51, an independent councillor for Rainhill South Ward, allowed her daughter's boyfriend to drive her red Vauxhall Corsa around the parish without a licence or insurance.

She appeared at Wirral Magistrates Court today, November 13, where she pleaded guilty to permitting someone to drive a motor vehicle without insurance, and permitting someone to drive a motor vehicle without a licence. The incident occurred at around 7.25pm on February 11 this year, when a police officer on Mill Lane, Rainhill, pulled over Paul Mitchell, who was driving Cllr Stevenson-Black's car.

After discovering Mitchell was not covered on the car's insurance and did not hold a licence, police visited Cllr Stevenson-Black's home on Stony Lane, and she admitted she had allowed the man to use the vehicle.

Speaking in court, she said: "Apologies for the situation that arose. It was a misunderstanding, in the sense that Paul has asked me could he borrow my car keys. He and my daughter would frequently sit in the car and play music. So when Paul asked me to use my car keys, I made the assumption it was to sit in the car, where as he has thought to use the car."

She said Mr Mitchell had been living with her family at the time due to being homeless, and had since qualified as a forklift truck driver. She said: "He's got his own flat, he's doing really well, so some good has come out of it. I'm just very sorry that it's come to this."

Paul Mitchell pleaded guilty to drug driving, driving without insurance and driving without a licence at an earlier hearing. Cllr Stevenson-Black was ordered to pay a financial penalty of £120, a £48 surcharge, and £110 in court costs, adding up to £278. She was also given six points on her licence.

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