A THREATENING text message led to an Ipswich man driving while disqualified for a sixth time.Dean Knock was caught behind the wheel of a Honda Prelude in Portman Road, Ipswich at 1.

A THREATENING text message led to an Ipswich man driving while disqualified for a sixth time.

Dean Knock was caught behind the wheel of a Honda Prelude in Portman Road, Ipswich at 1.15am on August 10.

Magistrates were told the 23-year-old had borrowed a friend's car to "get away from the area" after receiving a message from "someone he had reason to fear".

Representing Knock, of St Catherine's Court, Naomi Turner said her client had received threats from an unidentified person over a period of time.

She added: "On the day in question, he received a text message accusing him of doing something he hadn't done.

"He was told this person was coming to the house he was at and he was fearful of what would happen. He therefore took the decision to drive away."

When the vehicle was stopped moments later, Knock initially gave false details to the police officer in a bid to carry on his way.

These details were checked and found to be wrong, which led to him being arrested for obstructing a police officer at 1.30am.

He was taken to the police station and then arrested for further offences of driving while disqualified and driving without insurance.

At South East Suffolk Magistrates' Court, Knock admitted these offences and also to obstructing a police officer. He committed the crimes while subject to an 18-month community rehabilitation order for drugs and driving offences.

Chairman of the bench Nicholas Ridley said he took this into consideration and called Knock a "persistent offender" who had "disobeyed previous court orders".

He then sentenced him to five months in prison for driving while disqualified and a further month, to run concurrently, for obstructing a police officer. He was also banned from driving for two years.