A 39-year-old Douglas man has been convicted of driving while he was disqualified.

James Scott William Gibson, of Hibbin Way, admitted the offence as well as driving with no insurance and will be sentenced on May 23 after the preparation of a probation report.

Prosecutor James Robinson told the court how Gibson was disqualified from driving in May 2009 for 18 months with an order to retake his test at the end of his ban.

However, on January 31 this year police saw Gibson getting into a van on Cushag Road then pull away. He was stopped and asked if he had been in any trouble previously but said he had not.

Checks confirmed he was disqualified but found a UK licence had been issued to Gibson in 2016. He was asked if he had retaken his test and said he had done so in Runcorn. But checks confirmed he had no Isle of Man licence.

Gibson told police he had applied online for a UK licence and was asked if he knew the disqualification applied in the UK also. Gibson admitted that he did know and said: ’I’ve just been stupid.’ Bail was granted in the sum of £500 until sentencing.