Driver spotted by police in Swaffham banned just 19 days earlier, court told

A disqualified driver was caught at the wheel just 19 days after the ban started.

Wayne Davidson, 32, was tempted to hop in his BMW 120 because it was still sitting on the drive of his Sporle home, Lynn Magistrates’ Court heard on Thursday.

Prosecutor Colette Harper said police were conducting roadside checks in London Street, Swaffham, on February 21 when their on-board ANPR device showed Davidson’s car as having no insurance.

“He admitted to the officers that he was disqualified,” said Miss Harper. “Originally he gave false details but discretion was used and he eventually told the truth.”

The court was told that Davidson had been handed a nine-month ban on February 2.

“Nine days later he’s out driving while disqualified,” said Miss Harper, who added that the defendant said in interview that he’d driven from Thetford.

Defence solicitor Tiffany Meredith said that was not the instruction she had been given, which was that he had only driven a short distance.

“He says the reason he drove that day was he was heading to Tesco to get some essential shopping for the family. The car was on the drive as he had only recently been disqualified and hadn’t dealt with it yet.

“He knows it was a stupid thing to do. He hasn’t made any effort to retrieve the car from the police so that temptation isn’t in his way.”

Davidson, who pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified and having no insurance, was given an eight-month ban, making 15 to run when coupled with the remainder of the original.

He was also handed a 12-month community order with 80 hours’ unpaid work and up to 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days.

There was no separate penalty for the insurance matter. He was ordered to pay £95 victim surcharge.