GOOD news turned into bad after a new Ipswich driver was given a reduction in his insurance only to be disqualified from getting behind the wheel as a result.

GOOD news turned into bad after a new Ipswich driver was given a reduction in his insurance only to be disqualified from getting behind the wheel as a result.

Simon Steele passed his driving test last October and wasted no time in getting himself a car and insuring it.

He paid monthly instalments by direct debit and after six months received a letter to say his payments would drop by around £20 a month.

But the 18-year-old failed to read the small print of the letter which told him he would need to set up another direct debit for the new amount otherwise he would not be covered for insurance.

And within a fortnight of not signing the new forms he was stopped by a police officer for a faulty light which then turned into the conviction for driving without insurance when he couldn't produce his documents.

Steele, of Richmond Road, pleaded guilty to driving without insurance at South East Suffolk Magistrates' Court.

In court Steele said: “It was just a genuine mistake in not reading the letter properly.”

But magistrates had to explain that the minimum penalty was six points on his licence which would revoke Steele's licence and make him have to take his driving test again.

Instead Peter West, presiding magistrate, disqualified Steele from driving for two weeks, made him pay a £35 fine and £35 court costs.