A 35-year-old man from Strang has been sentenced to 200 hours’ community service by magistrates for driving while disqualified.

Michael Robert McCall, of Coronation Terrace, also had his licence endorsed with six penalty points.

He pleaded guilty to the offence as well as having no insurance.

Prosecutor Barry Swain told the court how McCall had been banned from driving in December 2012 with an order to retake his test.

He was said to have attempted two theory tests but failed them.

On November 11 police in the Strang area saw McCall driving a Nissan Navara and checks revealed he only held a provisional licence. He was found to have never retaken and passed his test.

Defence advocate Rebecca Cubbon said that her client had been paying insurance but it only covered him as a learner driver.

Ms Cubbon said: ’On the day in question, his normal lift hadn’t turned up. His wife dropped him off at work. But a work Jeep was left there and it couldn’t be left overnight so he drove it.

’It wasn’t a long journey from Anagh Coar to his house in Strang.

’He accepts it was a stupid decision to make.’

McCall was also ordered to pay £50 prosecution costs.