Banned driver caught behind the wheel (From The Advertiser Series)

Bishop Auckland driver receives further ban

1:19pm Thursday 24th January 2013 in News By Alexa Copeland, Reporter (Darlington)

A DRIVER who got behind the wheel despite being disqualified has been banned from the roads for another 18-months.

A policeman spotted Andrew Hood driving on Etherley Lane, Bishop Auckland, on September 1 last year and knew he was serving a driving ban, magistrates heard.

Hood, of Woodside, Bishop Auckland, was arrested and admitted driving whilst disqualified and having no insurance.

Prosecutor David Maddison told Darlington magistrates that the 42-year-old  had 34 previous convictions and was on bail at the time of the offence.

The court also heard he had alse been given a 16 week prison sentence, suspended for 12-months.

Magistrates extended the suspended sentence by 12-months, and gave Hood an 18-month driving ban.

He was also put on a 12-month supervision order and told to pay £60 towards court costs.