A banned driver who got behind the wheel of a Ford because his friend wasn’t confident reversing was branded “pretty stupid” by magistrates.

Blair Egerton was given a three year ban in 2018 for drug driving.

Prosecutor Keith Ballinger told Swindon Magistrates’ Court this week police officers spotted the 32-year-old driving a Ford Focus on Sandgate, Stratton, at around 2am on February 2, 2020.

Mr Ballinger said: “He was interviewed at the roadside, where he admits he was driving the vehicle, he doesn’t have a licence and has no insurance to drive the vehicle. He drove the car to turn it around as the person whose car it was couldn’t reverse properly.”

Egerton, of Manor Crescent, pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified and driving without insurance.

Defending, Emma Hillier said her client had driven the car about 50m. “His friend, who was in the vehicle, did not seem to be able to drive it and stupidly he offered to drive it instead – knowing he shouldn’t have.”

Chairman of the bench David Whetham told Egerton: “This was pretty stupid, wasn’t it? We are satisfied it wasn’t part of a deliberate plan; that you weren’t actually driving the apart from that once. But that almost makes it more stupid.”

He was fined £70, banned from the roads for 15 months and ordered to pay £72 in costs and surcharge.