A DISQUALIFIED driver jailed for breaching the ban for the second time this year has successfully won a one-third deduction in the sentence, but at a cost, the loss of the car he drove.

Sean Radford, of Louisa Terrace, Stanley, was given a 12-week prison sentence by magistrates in Newton Aycliffe on July 17, having admitted charges of driving while disqualified and without insurance.

Durham Crown Court was told police stopped him at the wheel of his Ford Fiesta car in Park Road, Stanley, while he was on the way to pick up his daughter from school, at 4.15pm on May 9.

Ashleigh Leach, prosecuting, said on checking, it was discovered Radford was banned by the magistrates on January 3, for 12 months, which was extended to three years on January 25, when he went back before the bench for further driving offences committed in the intervening period.

Miss Leach said the magistrates last month gave Radford the stiffest jail term, 12 weeks, recommended in the sentencing guidelines in the agreed category for such motoring offending,

“By driving again in May it was only four months after the first two disqualifications were imposed, therefore aggravating the offence.

“He was also going to pick up a child from school and would have driven with that child in the car when he was not insured.”

Jamie Adams, representing Radford at a crown court appeal hearing against the sentence, said he could not disagree with that view.

But he added: “At the age of 29 he’s not a man with a list of convictions to his name.

“His convictions have been restricted to this type of offending and these last few weeks in custody have been chastening to him.”

Mr Adams said he felt Radford should have been given a one-third deduction in the 12-week jail in recognition of his prompt guilty pleas at last month’s hearing.

Judge Christopher Prince, sitting with two magistrates, agreed to shorten the jail sentence to eight weeks, but, after being told the Ford Fiesta belonged to the defendant, ordered confiscation of the car.

“He chose to own and use a car to go about his everyday business while he was disqualified from doing so and it falls to be confiscated under the Powers of the Criminal Courts Act,.

“Therefore, it will be confiscated,” added the judge.