WANTING to collect his girlfriend from hospital a man got behind the wheel of a car he had bought to sell-on, despite having been banned from the roads just four months previously.

Daniel Cook said the police could see he looked nervous as he drove past them on Wootton Bassett Road on February 13, prompting them to turn on the blue lights and pull him over in the car park of The Runner.

There the 30-year-old of Oakham Close, Toothill, but formerly of Buckland Close, Park North, admitted straight away to officers that he had been disqualified in October of last year after being caught over the drink drive limit.

His defence, Sambreen Arif, told the court hat her client had bought the 02-plate VW Golf to do up and sell on, but had foolishly decided to drive it to collect his girlfriend from hospital.

"He drove from Toothill to Wootton Bassett Road which isn't particularly far, it is probably less than a mile from where he lives to where he was stopped," she said. "He says that as he drove past the police vehicle he knew he looked nervous which he says he knows is the only reason they pulled him over."

The magistrates told him that they took matters of driving while disqualified extremely seriously, and imposed a six month curfew meaning he must remain indoors at his home address between 8pm and 6am every night. He must also pay £85 Prosecution costs and an £85 victim surcharge.