Disqualified driver caught again

A MAN arrested for driving while disqualified is under a suspended sentence today after doing it again less than two hours after he was bailed by police.

Scott Lee, was stopped by officers on April 11 this year in Station Street, Ipswich for driving without insurance and while disqualified.

South East Suffolk Magistrates Court heard the 37-year-old waited he went out into the town centre after being released from Ipswich police station and drove again.

Magistrates branded the incident “extraordinary” when Lee, of Vernon Street, Ipswich, appeared before them.

He pleaded guilty to two charges of driving without insurance and two charges of driving while disqualified.

Naomi Turner, prosecuting said: “He gave false details when he was stopped but eventually gave the correct ones. He told police he was disqualified from driving. At 12.55pm he was bailed from the police station. One hour and three quarters later another Pc was on duty when they received information that Mr Lee was back in the car again.

“The car then drove past the officer and he followed it and stopped it.

“At 2.50pm he was stopped again. He said 'I was only taking it around the corner'.”

Roger Thompson mitigating said: “The driving speaks for itself. There is not much I can say about it. It was an extremely stupid thing to do.”

Presiding magistrate Diana Hunt said: “To get out on bail go around the corner and do exactly the same thing again is extraordinary putting it mildly.”

Lee was given a 16-week prison sentence suspended for one year, disqualified from driving for 12 months and given 200 hours of unpaid work.

He was also given a curfew for three months, a supervision order, made to go on a Think First programme and substance abuse programme and made to pay £60 court costs.

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