A DISQUALIFIED driver who drove through Swindon with no insurance has been banned again and ordered to pay £365.

Glynford Brookes,  of Sherborne, Dorset, pleaded guilty to driving along Coombe Road in Moredon on May 14 with no insurance whilst disqualified from driving.

Brookes, 60, was arrested after failing to show up to Swindon Magistrates' Court on September 10 and appeared in the court on Saturday.

Graham Dono, prosecuting said: "A police officer observed the vehicle at 12.10am and followed it until the vehicle came to a stop. Mr Brookes said he had taken out insurance over the internet but could not remember who with."

Andrew Watts-Jones, defending, said: "He was not in court when the disqualification was imposed in April, he never received the summons because he was no longer living at the property it was sent to.

"He was unaware that he was disqualified and he believed he had insurance which he had taken out via a relative of his but what he did not do was check with the relative that the policy was there. He's obviously been rolled over by the relative he gave money to."

Mr Watts-Jones explained that a court date mix-up had lead to some confusion over the number of points on Brookes' licence.

He said: "Mr Brookes was disqualified on April 4 after receiving too many points on his licence, then he appeared in absence on April 20 relating to an offence which took place prior to his previous court date.

"Something went wrong with the system and he had eight points on his licence that should not be there, they should have been dealt with at the time of the totting-up on April 4 and, really, he should have been disqualified today.

"He drives to work so I suggest disqualifying him for one day so he can go to work on Monday or put six penalty points on his licence and not disqualify him."

The chairman of the bench disagreed with Mr Watts-Jones suggestions and disqualified Brookes for a further three months, fined him £250 and ordered him to pay £85 in costs plus £30 for victim services.

Brookes' licence will be endorsed for driving without insurance.