A disqualified driver who drove the car he was trying to sell to be cleaned has been banned for a further three years.

Twenty-nine-year-old Ian Evans, of James Street, Milford Haven, appeared at Haverfordwest Magistrates Court, on Tuesday, to plead guilty to a charge of driving a Volvo V70 whilst disqualified.

The defendant who is already subject to a suspended prison sentence following a drink-driving offence the court heard, also admitted a charge of using a motor vehicle in a public place without third party insurance.

Prosecutor Abul Hussain told the court that Mr. Evans was stopped by police officers on the morning of Saturday, May 19, on James street driving a red Volvo.

“Officers spoke to the driver and he disclosed to them that he did not have a driving licence and was already disqualified for drink driving.

“He was parked on a grass verge and his explanation was that he was giving the car he was in a clean,” continued Mr. Hussain, adding that Mr. Evans was in breach of a suspended prison sentence.

Defence solicitor Mark Layton told the court that the vehicle that Mr. Evans was driving, belonged to his partner’s father, who had allowed her to use it.

“They were in the process of selling the car as it was too small for their purposes, and a person had agreed to view the vehicle, so they wanted to give a it a clean.

“Mr. Evans drove the vehicle less than 100 metres down the street so he could turn it around to pull up on the grass verge in close proximity to their house, so they could clean and hoover it.

“It was a momentary lapse of judgement, and he didn’t appreciate the significance of driving that short distance,” 

“His partner is imminently expecting their child and the due date is today,” added Mr. Layton.

Probation officer Julie Norman said that there had been no issues with the defendant’s compliance with the terms of his current suspended sentence order.

Magistrates disqualified Mr. Evans from driving for a further three years, and extended the operational period of his suspended sentence for 12 months, with 200 hours of unpaid work to also be completed.

He was also ordered to pay prosecution costs of £85 and an £85 victim surcharge.