A LAW-ABIDING motorist is demanding compensation after a court banned the wrong driver.

Ian Thompson says he suffered £2,000 in lost earnings after he was mistakenly banned from driving for three years.

After he received a letter from Sunderland Magistrates' Court telling him he was disqualified, it took five weeks to clear his name.

The 22-year-old self-employed window fitter, of Highgate Road, Hylton Lane, Sunderland, was told by court officials he had been mistaken for another Ian Thompson.

But he said: "Two weeks later, letters arrived from the DVLA saying I was banned. I've just got confirmation that I can drive again, but I've lost five weeks' work."

A spokesperson for the court said: "It was an administrative error which was immediately rectified as soon as it was brought to our attention and we have apologised.