A FATHER still reeling from the death of his premature baby drove an uninsured BMW without a licence because he didn't want to be away from his girlfriend.
A FATHER still reeling from the death of his premature baby drove an uninsured BMW without a licence because he didn't want to be away from his girlfriend.
Magistrates heard how 26-year-old Jamie Bland's girlfriend had miscarried their baby at 22 weeks on October 24.
They buried the child a fortnight later and were still trying to pay off the £522 cost of the funeral.
Police arrested Bland, of Spring Road, Ipswich, behind the wheel of a BMW parked at a Hadleigh Road garage at 5.30pm on December 8.
Further checks at Ipswich police station revealed Bland had no insurance for the car and was driving it with only a provisional licence.
He pleaded guilty to both charges before South East Suffolk magistrates and admitted obstructing a police officer by giving a false name.
Defender Ian Duckworth said: "He took the car because he didn't want to be away from his girlfriend."
The court heard Bland was still trying to pay £422 outstanding from the burial of his child on November 5.
Mr Duckworth went on: "He knows he shouldn't have taken the car and he apologises. He had applied for insurance but it hadn't come through yet."
Bench chairman Graham Barnett fined Bland £50 for obstructing a police officer and £100 for driving without insurance with six penalty points added to his licence.
Bland was also fined £30 for driving without a licence and another £30 for being in breach of a conditional discharge on May 14 for theft. He was also ordered to pay £55 costs.
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