A MOTORIST stopped by police during a seasonal spot check on the Driffield by-pass was found to have been banned from driving, a court has heard.
A check by officers on December 16 also showed that George Brankin, 58, of Worthington Street, Bradford had been driving a Renault Master van along the A164 without the correct insurance.
Brankin pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified and using a motor vehicle without third party insurance when he appeared at Bridlington Magistrates Court last Wednesday.
Victoria Mills, prosecuting, said Brankin’s details were checked by a police officer on the national computer but the details given differed slightly to those on the system.
“As the officer began to walk away the defendant called after the officer and admitted the details he had given weren’t correct and he was a banned driver,” Mrs Mills said.
Mrs Mills said Brankin had been banned from driving last year for failing to provide police with a specimen of breath for analysis.
Dave Robson, mitigating, described the incident as “unusual” and “bizarre”. Mr Robson said Brankin’s son had a severe medical condition, Chrohn’s disease, which had worsened.
Mr Robson said Brankin’s son, George, had been living with his mother until she died. George then moved to Bridlington but had become more and more hospitalised.
“His son needed support, there was nothing that could be done from the hospital or social services and it more or less left the defendant to work everything out.
“His son was desperate to have that support, he was desperate to provide that support and couldn’t get anybody to drive him back to Bradford so he borrowed a friend’s vehicle,” Mr Robson said.
The court heard that Brankin, who has to walk with the help of a stick because of problems with his spine and legs, now has his son living with him in Bradford.
The case was adjourned for an all options report to be prepared by the Probation Service before sentencing on January 25.
“The reasons for this are your previous record and the seriousness of the offence,” Mrs Farnsworth said.