BANNED DRIVER IS CAUGHT BY POLICE ON MOBILE IN VAN

He tells court he didn’t know he couldn’t drive

BUILDER Ian Wright-bevans has been banned from the roads for six months after being caught driving while disqualified.

Police stopped the 56-yearold driving a van on the A53 Etruria Road, in Etruria, at 9.10am on April 9 because he was using a handheld mobile phone.

Checks were carried out and it was established that he had been disqualified from driving for six months on November 4 under the ‘totting up’ procedure.

Now magistrates at North Staffordshire Justice Centre have handed Wright-bevans a further six-month ban.

Prosecutor Emily Pybus said an unmarked police car was parked on the A53 at Etruria when the officer’s attention was drawn to the defendant’s vehicle.

Miss Pybus said: “The defendant was using a handheld mobile phone. The officer caused him to stop and spoke to the defendant. Checks were carried out which showed he was a disqualified driver.”

Wright-bevans, of Bryant Road, Bucknall, pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified, driving without insurance and using a handheld mobile phone while driving.

Representing himself, Wright-bevans said he had not been made aware that he had been banned. He had been stopped in Blackpool last year but did not hear anything from the courts.

He said: “If I was banned I have lads working for me, I have no need to drive. I did not know I was banned.

“I was stopped in February or March last year. After a couple of months I forgot about it. I just carried on with my life, working. I know I probably should have followed up with what was going on.”

Magistrates sentenced Wright-bevans to a 12-month community order.

It includes a 10-day rehabilitation activity requirement and 150-hours unpaid work. He must also pay £135 costs and a £95 surcharge.