A man from Andreas has been sentenced to probation and community service for driving while disqualified and taking a vehicle without consent.
James Anthony McKenzie, of Larivane Estate, admitted both offences as well as driving without insurance.
Magistrates sentenced the 30-year-old to 12 months’ probation and ordered him to do 50 hours of community service. He was also banned for driving for a further six months.
Prosecuting advocate Barry Swain told the court that McKenzie was spotted by police on September 9 while he was driving a Ford Focus.
The officer on duty recognised McKenzie as a disqualified driver and he was subsequently spoken to and arrested.
The car he was driving belonged to his girlfriend but she had not given him permission to drive it.
The court heard that he was already banned from driving until November 2020 with an order to retake his test at the end of the ban.
It also heard that McKenzie has spent 20 days on remand, the equivalent of a 40 days in jail.
A probation report recommended a combination order, of probation and community service, as the most appropriate sentence.
The report said that McKenzie had been ’confused and upset’ at the time of the offences as a member of his family was seriously ill.
On the day in question he said he tried to get a taxi but could not get one and knew that his girlfriend left her keys in her car.
Defence advocate David Clegg said: ’Mr McKenzie had been contacted on the day about a seriously-ill relative. There was no complaint as to the quality of his driving. He came to police attention because an officer who arrested him previously saw him driving.’
Mr Clegg went on to say that his client was a plasterer who was looking for work but had been struggling due to not having a driving licence.
Magistrates’ chair David Craine told McKenzie: ’This was a moment of madness but it was a serious offence.’
McKenzie was also ordered to pay £125 prosecution costs, which he will pay at a rate of £10 per week, and will now be disqualified until May 2021.