The driver had been convicted of driving a motor car on a public highway ‘at a speed or in a manner’ dangerous to the public.
Held: The driver’s appeal succeeded. The charge was bad for duplicity. The court explained why this should happen: ‘a conviction ought to specify he particular offence of which the man was convicted, otherwise . . If a man were charged again with one of the two alternative offences mentioned in his conviction it would be impossible to say that the plea of autrefois convict would be satisfied by producing the document which contained the offence of which he had been previously convicted.’
Wills J
(1904) 91 LT 98
England and Wales
Updated: 28 June 2021; Ref: scu.652596