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ELECTRONICALLY TAGGED WAR VETERAN FORCED TO MISS REMEMBRANCE MARCH

Mr Ogden with his tag

Thursday May 15,2008

By Jack Teague for express.co.uk

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A 73-YEAR-OLD war veteran was forced to miss a remembrance march after becoming one of Britain’s oldest men to be ordered to wear an electronic tag.

Peter Ogden, a great-grandfather from Bristol, said he was “appalled” and “disgusted” when a judge gave him a curfew order for failing to report a road accident.

Mr Ogden, who served with British forces on the Suez Canal, was due to join fellow members of the Grenadier Guards Association in commemorations in London this month.

But he has been forced to cancel his “long-awaited trip” after being banned from leaving his home between 4pm and 11pm.

The pensioner, who initially claimed to have no memory of the collision, was previously accused of running over a woman in Durley Hill, Keynsham.

But he said his three-month tagging order, which he received in addition to a one-year driving ban, was an “insult”.

He said he will appeal against the decision as he had only expected points on his licence.

Mr Ogden, a former floorer, said: “I am absolutely appalled by this judge’s punishment. I served my country for three years and have never been in trouble in my whole life.

“I only admitted failing to report an accident on the advice of my solicitor, who told me I would only receive a few points on my licence.

“I have been to court four times regarding this. It has been the worst time of my life.

“If I went out and stabbed someone, I would probably walk out of court with a suspended sentence.”

“This sentencing is an insult to my wife and I. What danger am I to the public? I’m disgusted and, of course, I will be appealing.”

Mr Ogden said he was due to march on the Mall in the capital this Sunday.

He added: “There was no way I can go now. It is absolutely heartbreaking.

“The tag means I won’t even be allowed into my garden. I’m being made to feel like a major criminal.”

Mr Ogden, who suffers memory problems, said he only drove away from the scene of the accident in November last year after confirming with another witness that she had dialled 999.

Forensic tests on Mr Ogden’s red Daewoo Nexia, which was held by police for 55 days, revealed it had come into contact with the injured woman.

The victim, thought to be in her mid 20s, suffered life-threatening injuries but was discharged from hospital earlier this year.

He was sentenced, at Bath Magistrates’ Court, by the District Judge David Parsons for failing to report a road accident. An earlier charge of failing to stop for an accident was dismissed.

And he joins a small group of pensioners, over the age of 70, to be tagged in Britain.

In May last year, John Burns, 82, from Stockton-on-Tees, was fitted with the device after being caught driving while disqualified twice in the space of seven weeks.

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ELECTRONICALLY TAGGED WAR VETERAN FORCED TO MISS REMEMBRANCE MARCH

16.05.08, 10:12am

If there is any justice, the Grenadier Guards association will kick this person out of their association. He is an utter disgrace to the uniform and all who served. Why is he being given airtime to inflict his whinings and self justifications on to the rest of us. A woman nearly died. He must have been thought responsible for nearly killing her, otherwise why would they issue the tagging order and the driving ban.

He should have known better

• Posted by: Stickings90 • Report Comment

NICE HEADLINE.......

15.05.08, 5:53pm

How about this one. Convicted hit and run driver will miss remembrance march. Or, Convicted hit and run driver gets three months to sit at home and think about the woman he almost killed.
I am thankful to Mr Ogden for his service, he protected our way of life and our laws. The same laws he broke and must now suffer the consequences. If you call sitting around your house punishment.

• Posted by: hooper66 • Report Comment