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.