A FARRIER was spared a further ban after he admitted a string of driving offences.

Christopher Gardner, 26, of Portmead Rise, Birtley, near Chester-le-Street, pleaded guilty to driving a car without insurance and driving with a defective tyre and three defective lights.

The offences happened on the A693 road between Chester-le-Street and Stanley, in June last year.

Gardner, who represented himself at Consett Magistrates Court, confessed he had a drugs problem in the past but had gone through a rehabilitation programme after losing his licence.

In mitigation, he told the court that his driving ban was due to end this April and that he could not manage without his licence for a longer period of time, because he needed his van to run his business of shoeing horses.

He said his 70-year-old grandfather, who runs a farrier supply business, had been driving him around so he could continue his work, which earned him about £500 a week.

He was fined a total of £330 with £35 costs and was given eight penalty points.