A HAULIER caused thousands of pounds of damage to a major level crossing in Southampton when a barrier came down on the back of his trailer.

Graeme Edwards, 49, claimed that he had not heard the alarm being sounded when he began driving his heavy tractor articulated lorry from the Bevois Valley direction over the Mount Pleasant crossing at Northam on the main Southampton-Winchester line.

But graphic closed circuit television footage showed that he was about halfway over when the barrier began to come down and then struck the rear of his trailer.

No trains were approaching at the time of the incident on April 30 last year.

Prosecutor Tammy Mears told the city crown court that the collision had caused damage costing more than £7,300 to the barrier.

According to witnesses, Edwards stopped his truck afterwards and untangled the barrier from his trailer and then drove on, but he denied it.

Edwards, who has held a heavy goods licence for almost 40 years, was originally charged with dangerous driving and causing damage but pleaded guilty to driving without due care and attention, which the prosecution accepted.

In mitigation, Barnaby Shaw said that Edwards used the crossing several times a day but had not heard the alarm sound.

He said: “He wasn’t aware the light was changing and the barrier was coming down. He wouldn’t endanger himself or anyone else.”

Imposing a fine of £600, Judge Nicholas Rowland told Edwards, of Garston Park, Tilehurst, Berkshire, that it was a serious matter and he had to take care approaching level crossings.

He added: “Happily no injury was caused, although the barrier was damaged.”

Edwards was given three months to pay the fine, with 21 days’ imprisonment in default.