An uninsured driver was unmasked when police spotted he was not an elderly woman, a court was told.

Gregor Turley, of Prince’s Street, Douglas, was followed by police as he drove along Westmoreland Road, in Douglas, turning into a lane behind Buck’s road, on January 14.

Michael Jelksi, for the prosecution, said police ran checks on the blue Renault Megane Turley was driving and found it was registered to a woman in her 70s.

He said the car appeared to be in a poor condition and when they stopped it 41-year-old Turley told them he was uninsured, had no licence and was a banned driver. He admitted failing to notify a change of vehicle ownership and driving while disqualified.

The court heard Turley was banned from driving in January 2012 with a condition that he pass a driving test, which he had not done.

Defending him, Aalish Hannan drew the court’s attention to two references in Turley’s support.

Magistrates’ chairman Alan Gelling told him: ’It seems to me you have a casual disregard for the rules.’

He was given 60 hours’ community service, pays £50 costs and has a 12-month driving ban.