THINKING his driving ban had come to an end a man got behind the wheel of a car, not realising he had to complete an extended driving test first.

James Blackman of Cowleaze Walk, Stratton, came before magistrates sitting in Swindon yesterday to be sentenced for a charge of driving whilst disqualified and using a car on the road without insurance on February 17 of this year.

He had previously pleaded guilty to both offences at a hearing in March.

The court heard from prosecutor Keith Ballinger that an officer on patrol had spotted 24-year-old Blackman behind the wheel of a silver Mercedes on that date and had stopped him as he was wanted in connection with other offences, which led to no charges being brought against him.

He was taken into custody and the 2007-plate vehicle was seized. He had been given a 12-month driving ban in September 2014 for a charge of dangerous driving from Swindon Crown Court along with a prison sentence of eight months suspended for two years.

While the ban had come to an end, he had not completed the necessary extended driving test that the court had ordered he take before getting his licence back, and his suspended sentence order remains active until September of this year.

Emma Hanslip, defending, told the court that he suffered from ongoing health issues as a result of a car accident but had not been aware he needed to take the extended test.

The court heard he also had £2,973 owing to the courts in outstanding fines.

The magistrates sentenced him to a 12-month community order, during which he must complete a thinking skills package. He was given a curfew to stay indoors at his new address in Bayleaf Avenue, Woodhall Park, between 6pm and 6am for 14 days. He must also pay £40 Crown Prosecution Service costs and will have six penalty points added to his driving licence.

When he was sentenced in 2014, Recorder Nicholas Atkinson said: “Do not be so foolish as to think the police won’t see you if you drive again, because they will.”