New five-year ban for joiner who drove himself to work

A disqualified driver caught behind the wheel as he drove himself to work when a colleague let him down, has narrowly avoided being jailed.

Joiner Alan Taylor had previously made arrangements for a workmate to ferry him to and from jobs after he was hit with a driving ban.

But Paisley Sheriff Court heard how that individual let him down on November 11 as he had been drinking to excess the night before and was unable to act as his chauffeur.

Taylor then made“the wrong judgement”and drove himself as he was under pressure to get a job finished that Saturday morning.

Police on mobile patrol intercepted him at 9.20am as he was driving his Vauxhall in Burnbrae Drive, Linwood.

When Taylor, of Aytoun Drive, Erskine, appeared for sentence, he admitted driving while disqualified and without insurance on the date in question.

Defence agent Tony Callahan said his client accepted it had been stupid to act as he did.

Mr Callaghan said he had a family to support and a custodial disposal would be a disaster everyone concerned.

After studying reports and considering submissions, Sheriff Susan Sinclair agreed Taylor had been stupid and described the offence as serious.

She said that given all of the facts and circumstances involved, she had decided to refrain from sending the 38-year-old to jail.

Instead, she made him the subject of a Community Payback Order requiring him to complete 200 hours of unpaid work in a six-month period.

She warned sternly that if he failed to comply in any way it would result in a period of imprisonment being imposed.

Taylor was banned from driving for an additional five years.