Hunor Szeles repeatedly refused legal advice and heckled his own court hearing
A drink driver who was found wielding a knife has avoided jail despite heckling magistrates during his own court hearing.
Hunor Szeles abused and refused to engage with probation officers when he appeared at Norwich Magistrates' Court to be sentenced for a string of serious driving offences and possession of a weapon.
The 33-year-old of Marl Pit Lane in Norwich represented himself at the court after repeatedly refusing legal advice.
When he was told knife offences carried a potential jail sentence, Szeles told magistrates: "Just tell me how much I have to pay and don’t waste my time."
Szeles previously pleaded guilty to possession of a knife in a public place, drink driving, failing to stop, running red lights, and having no license, insurance or MOT.
The charges relate to two separate incidents in July and September last year when he was found illegally behind the wheel.
On one occasion, the court heard how his Audi A4 had been spotted by police turning at speed and narrowly avoiding other traffic at the Sweet Briar crossroads in Hellesdon, in the north west of Norwich.
He had ignored a series of red lights before being stopped on Waterman Road by police who found a black butterfly knife when his car was searched.
On the other occasion, Dylan Ward-Murtagh, prosecuting, told the court how Szeles was seen by police sitting in the seat of the vehicle at a community centre in Earlham with an open can of beer and the engine running.
Magistrates said the offences had passed the custodial threshold but that sentencing guidelines meant there was a presumption any jail term should be suspended.
The court heard the offences had passed the custodial threshold but that sentencing guidelines meant there was a presumption any jail term should be suspended.
They sentenced him to four months' imprisonment suspended for 12 months, fined him a total of £616 and banned him from driving for 22 months.