A BUSINESSMAN stole a driving licence from a customer's home to flout a driving ban in a bid to keep his company afloat.

Kevin Hodgson seized his opportunity after he was banned from driving for three years in 1998.

He continued to flout the law by driving his firm's BMW to clients across the country.

But fearing he might be caught by police he stole the licence, changed the address to his own and tried to pass off a speeding fine in someone else's name.

Newcastle Crown Court heard that Hodgson feared being off the road would put his already flagging business at risk.

In August, 1998, after the recent ban, he went to visit customer Kevin Clark at his Darlington home, where his Washington-based central heating firm, Observation UK Limited, had been carrying out some work.

Paul Sloan, prosecuting, told the court how, while Mr Clark was out of the room, Hodgson stole his driving licence.

His scam was uncovered when he was caught speeding in Peterborough last year, and sent off his fake licence in reply to a fixed penalty notice. But Mr Clark also received a notice at his home and when he contested the fine Hodgson was arrested.

Hodgson confessed and pleaded guilty yesterday to theft, driving while disqualified, and perverting the course of justice.

He was allowed to walk free after Judge Maurice Carr heard that Hodgson's staff would lose their jobs if he was jailed.

Paul Caulfield, defending, said Hodgson had run up thousands of pounds of debt after a divorce, as well as trying to fund a new relationship with his young girlfriend and pay for their luxury apartment at the exclusive Wills Building on Newcastle's Coast Road.

Hodgson was given a 12-months' sentence suspended for two years.