A Pulrose man has been sentenced to 180 hours’ community service and fined £300 after admitting to five driving offences.

Paul Roland Brown, of Heather Crescent, pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified, having no insurance, having no vehicle licence, failing to notify a change of ownership, and having a defective tyre.

Brown, who is 33, was also ordered to pay £50 prosecution costs.

The court heard that he also had two previous convictions for driving while disqualified.

Defence advocate Deborah Myerscough handed three letters of reference for her client.

And she asked the court to take into account that her client had co-operated fully with the police when he was stopped. Ms Myerscough told the court: ’He told police to destroy the vehicle once they had finished with it.

’There is no evidence of bad driving on the day.

’He was going to apply for his theory test with a view to taking his test this year at some point.

’He realises he has gone about it the wrong way.’

Ms Myerscough urged the court to follow the recommendation of a probation report, suggesting community service as an appropriate penalty.

She said: ’He would benefit from that. He has made contact with his GP to deal with some personal issues.

’The probation officer feels a custodial sentence would be detrimental.’

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Deputy High Bailiff Jayne Hughes said she would give Brown credit for his early guilty pleas.

She added: ’Two prior convictions for driving while disqualified are obviously an aggravating factor.

’You were also driving with a defective tyre and had no licence for the vehicle, and you purchased it with the knowledge you were disqualified.

’But I have been persuaded I should not send you to custody.’

Brown was sentenced to 180 hours’ community service, to be completed in 12 months.

It was as a direct alternative to eight weeks’ custody, for both offences of driving while disqualified and driving with no insurance, to run concurrently.

He was fined £250 for having a defective tyre and £50 for having no vehicle licence.

No separate penalty was made for the offence of failing to notify a change of ownership.

Brown was also disqualified from driving for 12 months with an order to retake his test at the end of the ban.