A MAN is today starting a driving ban and faces a large fine for driving carelessly with three young children in his car.Matthew Cook, 40, of Robeck Road, Ipswich, overtook two lorries and collided with a car while trying to pass it.

A MAN is today starting a driving ban and faces a large fine for driving carelessly with three young children in his car.

Matthew Cook, 40, of Robeck Road, Ipswich, overtook two lorries and collided with a car while trying to pass it.

He admitted careless driving on the A12 near Capel St Mary on October 24.

Cook, a bricklayer, struck the car of a car as they went down a slip road and they stopped to exchange details, South East Suffolk Magistrates Court heard.

The other driver noticed three children about seven or eight years old in the back of the car.

Dino Barricella, mitigating, said: "The children were fooling around and Cook became distracted by this.

"He feels very stupid for allowing himself to do that.

"He is remorseful about his actions and can do no more than learn from this lesson."

The court heard Cook's mother and father had both been diagnosed with cancer recently and that he had been having relationship difficulties.

He had also taken an overdose of anti-depressants, the court was told.

Mr Barricella said: "His mother, with whom he is very close, had breast cancer and the surgery did not go very well.

"Then shortly afterwards his father was told he had cancer."

Bench chairman Raymond Condon disqualified him from driving for six months and handed him a fine of £350.

Cook was also ordered to pay Mr Garrett compensation of £150 and costs of £100.