MAGISTRATES have issued a warrant for the arrest of a man who said he could not reach court because he was stuck in Edinburgh.

Andrew Sharpe, 28, had previously telephoned court officials at Harrogate to say he could not appear at earlier hearings because his father had died, his grandfather had died and he was ill.

Yesterday he was due to face five charges of driving while disqualified, four of them committed during the last six weeks, and five of not being insured.

Solicitor Geoffrey Rogers said Sharpe, of Albert Place, Starbeck, Harrogate, had contacted his office to say he was stuck in Edinburgh after his car broke down during a trip away.

Issuing the arrest warrant, presiding magistrate Pauline Ward said the case had been initially listed back in February and on one occasion Sharpe had been told a prison sentence was a strong possibility.