GRANDAD Ventura Pilo Bem is today behind bars after driving while disqualified just weeks after being caught for his second drink-driving offence.

GRANDAD Ventura Pilo Bem is today behind bars after driving while disqualified just weeks after being caught for his second drink-driving offence.

A sharp-eyed police officer spotted the 53-year-old factory worker was spotted driving a red Honda Accord in Stoke Street in Ipswich even though just weeks earlier he had been disqualified from driving for three years.

But when Bem saw the officer he left his car with the engine running and made off towards Austin Street at around 8.30am on November 24.

Bem, of Abingdon Close, Ipswich, pleaded guilty at South East Suffolk Magistrates' Court to disqualified driving, driving without insurance and to resisting arrest.

The Evening Star is currently running a campaign in a bid to name and shame those who shun the law and drive without insurance which could leave anyone involved in an accident with them out of pocket.

Lesla Small, prosecuting at South East Suffolk Magistrates' Court said the officer chased Bem for about 40 metres before tackling him to the ground.

Bem then lashed out with his arms and his legs, grabbed the officer's trousers and ripped his ear piece from his ear.

Bem was arrested earlier in November for drink-driving after he celebrated the birth of his grandchild and was found to be more than three times over the legal limit. He was also placed on a three-month curfew and told to do 200 hours unpaid work for the community.

The court heard, however, that Bem had refused to have the electronic curfew tag fitted because it would irritate his skin condition, psoriasis.

Bem, who was not working due to illness but had completed nine hours unpaid work, admitted breaching the community order.

John Hughes, mitigating, said Bem, a Portuguese national had desperately needed money to pay debts and planned to drive to the Portuguese community in Norwich Road to sell his car.

He added that Bem, who does not speak English, signed a form he did not understand stating that he had refused to have the curfew tag fitted.

Magistrates sentenced Bem to eight weeks in prison for driving while disqualified. He was re-sentenced for drink-driving, his second similar offence in four years and was jailed for a further four weeks.

The community order was revoked, the three-year ban remained and no separate penalty was added for no insurance or resisting arrest.