A BANNED motorist was caught at the wheel of a car while driving to court to appear for the same offence committed only six weeks earlier.

Mark Leslie Coxon was facing a charge of driving while disqualified, arising after he was stopped by police on the A181 in Gilesgate, Durham, on Thursday April 23.

He was previously caught driving while disqualified in his native South Shields on November 15, last year.

Coxon was due to appear for the April offence before North Durham magistrates, sitting in Consett, earlier this month.

But while travelling to that scheduled court hearing, Coxon was stopped by police for driving an MG ZR in an allegedly haphazard fashion, in Lanchester, County Durham, on Tuesday June 9.

As a result he was arrested and, therefore, missed the court appearance, as he was processed and charged for the new offence.

Unaware why he was absent from court the magistrates issued a bench warrant for his arrest for failing to answer his bail, not realising he was already under arrest for the new motoring offences committed as Coxon was heading to court that day.

He was brought before the magistrates from police custody the following day, facing new allegations of dangerous driving, driving while disqualified and without insurance, all committed on June 9.

The magistrates sent the case to Durham Crown Court and Coxon was remanded in custody.

Appearing via video link at the crown court from nearby Durham Prison, today (Wednesday June 24), Coxon pleaded ‘guilty’ to all three charges.

Reading a case summary, Judge Christopher Prince said: “He says he was driving that way because he wanted to get to court.”

Chris Baker, mitigating, said: “Yes, he was on bail for driving while disqualified and so he wanted to get to court.

“He’s 27 years of age and has some learning difficulties.

“Having now pleaded, I would usually have asked for him to be sentenced, but in the circumstances I would ask for a pre-sentence report by the Probation Service.”

Agreeing, Judge Christopher Prince told Coxon: “You will be sentenced next month.

“Custody is inevitable in this case and you should expect to receive such a sentence for these offences, given your bad driving record.”

Coxon, of East Close, South Shields, will be sentenced on Friday July 31.