A BANNED driver who made an impulsive decision to get behind the wheel is now paying the price of his actions.Timothy Franco, 22, has been sentenced to a 12-month community rehabilitation order and was ordered to do 40 hours of unpaid work after driving a friend's car.

A BANNED driver who made an impulsive decision to get behind the wheel is now paying the price of his actions.

Timothy Franco, 22, has been sentenced to a 12-month community rehabilitation order and was ordered to do 40 hours of unpaid work after driving a friend's car.

Franco was stopped by police in Rectory Road.

"The vehicle appeared to have a defect of some kind," prosecutor Stephen Coleman told South East Suffolk Magistrates.

A radio check revealed Franco was a disqualified driver. He had received a 36-month motoring ban in May this year for drink driving.

Paul Roach, mitigating, said: "He is deeply remorseful for committing this offence.

"It wasn't his motor vehicle so it wasn't planned in advance. It was a spur of the moment decision."

Bench chairwoman Debbie Langton, told him: "If you drive whilst disqualified you could get a custodial sentence. It is a very serious offence. If you do it again custody will be a very likely sentence."

Franco, of London Road, Ipswich, admitted driving while banned and having no insurance.

He has to attend an accredited offending behaviour programme as part of his community rehabilitation order.

Franco was also given eight penalty points on his licence for not having insurance.

He was ordered to pay £55 prosecution costs.