GOING out for a drive with his girlfriend cost a banned driver 160 hours of his time.
Grantham magistrates heard how Mark Varnham, of Kings Road, Long Clawson, was stopped in South Parade, Grantham, on January 13.
A police officer had followed the Rover driven by Varnham as he travelled at some speed. A check on the Police National Computer revealed the vehicle had no MOT certificate.
Asked by officers for his licence, Varnham, 32, said he had not received it back from the DVLA after receiving points.
Disbelieving officers checked out his story and found he had been disqualified from driving for six months in October under the totting-up procedure.
On Wednesday, Varnham pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified, driving with no insurance and driving a vehicle with no MOT.
Varnham also admitted a charge of failing to answer to court, after missing a hearing when his son had become ill and was taken to hospital.
For driving while disqualified, magistrates sentenced him to a 12-month community order with 160 hours’ unpaid work. Varnham was also ordered to pay £40 towards costs and received six points on his licence. There was no separate penalty for the remaining charges.