A BANNED driver who lied to police about his identity and claimed to be his own brother has appeared at court.

Jason Paul Renwick was stopped by police on the afternoon of March 22 after officers noticed him driving a Ford Transit without a seatbelt.

Newton Aycliffe Magistrates' Court heard that after spotting the police car the 31-year-old turned his head 'as though he was looking for something out of his passenger window.'

Oriana Frame, prosecuting at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates' Court, said: "At around 1.10pm in Chester-Le-Street officers signalled for the driver of a Ford Transit to pull over after noticing he wasn't wearing a seatbelt.

"Officers described the defendant as acting suspiciously after seeing the marked police vehicle and turning away from them.

"Police spoke to the defendant and he gave his name as [his brother], along with his brother's date of birth and address, although he said he could not remember the postcode.

"A fingerprint scanner used at the scene revealed the defendant's true identity and it became clear that he was uninsured and only had a provisional driver's licence."

Renwick pleaded guilty to obstructing a constable, driving whilst not wearing a seat belt, using a motor vehicle without insurance and driving without a licence.

The court heard that the 31-year-old was previously banned from driving in 2018 and in the same year was also convicted of driving without insurance.

Paul Donohue, mitigating, said: "He panicked, that's why he lied. It did not last very long and he came clean to officers.

"The van belonged to someone else and he was doing them a favour, he was helping somebody move something.

"He knows he shouldn't have done it."

Renwick, of Pullman Court, Gateshead, was fined £200 and banned from driving for 12 months.

He was also ordered to pay £32 victim surcharge and £85 court costs.