Banned driver delivered food ‘as a favour to friend’

A FAMILY man with financial struggles helped deliver Chinese takeaways across Llanelli despite being banned from driving.

Jonathan Mark Hughes, of Gorsfach, Dafen, Llanelli, pleaded guilty at Llanelli Magistrates’ Court on Thursday to driving while disqualified and also guilty to driving without insurance.

Prosecutor Sian Cutter said the 24 year-old was stopped by police in Heol Siloh, in Llanelli, on October 20.

“At 10.20pm officers on patrol stopped a silver Vauxhall Astra, which was being driven by the defendant who said he was delivering food,” she said. “Checks on the vehicle and the driver were made and it was found he was disqualified from driving for six months as he was a totter.”

The court heard Hughes had been given the driving ban in August.

Defence solicitor Stephen John said: “My client was effectively two months into his driving ban when he was stopped by police.

“He is a young man with a longterm partner and children.

“He suffers from ill health which is chronic in nature and this has curtailed his ability to work.

“On this night, he was asked to help out a friend, to do a favour and help deliver Chinese food.”

Mr John added that Hughes had been struggling financially also, which is why he agreed to deliver the food.

He added: “He had owned the cars prior to the ban being in place but effectively he had four months left to go before he could drive again.”

The district judge agreed for a probation report to be carried out into Hughes’ circumstances and told him: “You were driving two months after being given a ban.

“You were going to various locations over the course of the evening, doing short and repeated journeys, driving for financial reward. “This is a serious matter.” The probation report heard Hughes was remorseful for his actions and had foolishly agreed to deliver the takeaways.

Hughes was ordered to carry out a 12-month community order involving 160 hours of unpaid work.

He was disqualified for driving for 12 months and told to pay £85 court costs and £85 victim surcharge.

There was no separate penalty for having no insurance but his licence will be endorsed.