A 46-year-old man has been sentenced to 120 hours community service for driving while disqualified and having no insurance.

Darren James Foster, of Peveril Street, Douglas, pleaded guilty to both offences as well as having no vehicle licence and failing to notify a change of ownership.

He also had his licence endorsed with eight penalty points and was ordered to pay £50 prosecution costs.

Prosecutor Rachael Braidwood told the court how Foster was disqualified from driving in 2009 for two years with an order to retake his test at the end of his ban.

On October 30, police on patrol in Laxey saw Foster driving a van and checks revealed his licence had expired in May 2017.

He was stopped and it was also found that the van was registered in another name.

Foster admitted he had not taxed or insured the vehicle but said he was not disqualified.

He was asked if there was an order to retake his test and told police: ’Not that I know of.’

The court heard that Foster has been disqualified previously in 2004, 2005, 2009 and 2010.

Defence advocate Stephen Wood said that he had listened to recordings of the 2009 judgment with his client and confirmed that there had been an order made that Foster retake his test.

Deputy High Bailiff Jayne Hughes sentenced Foster to 120 hours community service for each offence of driving while disqualified and having no insurance, to run concurrently.

No separate penalty was made for the offences of having no vehicle licence and failing to notify a change of ownership.