A CLASSIC car dealer drove while disqualified because he succumbed to temptation, a court heard today (Thursday, November 13).

Simon Robinson, owner of Ketton Garage, in Coatham Mundeville, Darlington, drove a Jaguar and a Porsche Boxster on two separate occasions and was spotted by off duty police officers both times.

Robinson, who was previously jailed for driving at 70mph on the wrong side of the A1, pleaded guilty to two counts of driving while disqualified at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates Court.

Lorraine Cooper, prosecuting, said he was disqualified for dangerous driving in 2008 and has not yet passed the extended test to get his licence back, although he does have a provisional licence.

“On July 5, off duty officers approached the garage and observed a Porsche slowly travel past them onto the forecourt,” she said.

“He told officers he would not do it again, but despite that fact there was a further incident in August and on this occasion he was driving a Jaguar.”

The court heard how Robinson was a well-known man who employed ten people, was very hands-on and had been in the business of restoring cars since 1974.

His solicitor said: “For the first offence, he drove to a motor show to exhibit the car with a driver who was meant to come back but he did not do so, so Mr Robinson succumbed to the temptation to drive back, knowing full well that he wasn’t allowed to drive on his own.

“The second incident, he has again succumbed to temptation. He needed some petrol, there was nobody else around, so he got in and drove the short distance to fill it up. A foolish decision, he accepts.”

He added that Robinson, 60, was last month told his cancer had spread and that he needed to be given an opportunity to rehabilitate adding: “he needs to be able to see light at the end of the tunnel.”

Chair of the bench, Chris Shaw, said: “Clearly you were aware that you had not passed your driving test and you should have not have been driving.”

Robinson was given an eight-week custodial sentence, suspended for six months, his licence was endorsed with six penalty points, he was banned from driving for another three months and ordered to pay £165.