Disqualified driver back behind wheel

Published on 29th March 2007 in News

A man who turned to driving for comfort when his support network failed him has been jailed for 24 weeks.

David Wilson (21), of Grosvenor Avenue, Goole, appeared in the town's magistrates' court on Tuesday.

He pleaded guilty to two charges of driving whilst disqualified, two of driving without insurance and one of obstructing a police constable.

The court heard that on September 20 last year he had been caught driving in the town while disqualified and without insurance; he had done the same in Barnsley on February 2.

On the second occasion he told the police officer that his name was Steven James May but eventually admitted this was not true and said he had given a false name so he could get on with his journey.

Defending, Paul Norton said that at the time of the first offence Mr Wilson's mother was very ill and his grandmother's health was failing.

He had been taking strong anti-depressants at the time.

Referring to his love of driving, Mr Norton said: "It amounts to something akin to an addiction.

"He told me that he forgets his problems when he is driving. In his words it 'chills him out'," said Mr Norton.

He told the court that his client's mother and grandmother were now dead and Mr Wilson had been deprived of his support network.

Mr Norton said Mr Wilson was 'vulnerable' and 'suffering from bereavement.'

Magistrates described Mr Wilson's driving record as 'appalling' and sentenced him to 12 weeks in custody for driving while disqualified in February and 12 weeks in custody for driving without insurance; the sentences will run concurrently.

He was also disqualified from having a driving licence for 12 months.

For obstructing a police office, he was sentenced to 12 weeks in prison, also to run concurrently.

A suspended prison sentence was also activated and Mr Wilson was sentenced to 12 weeks in prison, to run consecutively, making a total of 24 weeks in prison.