A 41-year-old man from Bride has been fined £160 for having no vehicle licence.

Matthew Lionel Duxbury admitted the offence and was also ordered by magistrates to pay £50 prosecution costs.

Prosecuting advocate Rachael Braidwood told the court how police saw Duxbury driving a Vauxhall Meriva on August 18 at 9.23pm.

He was initially stopped by them in relation to an issue with a tyre but police then found that his tax had expired in November 2020.

He claimed that he was unaware the tax had expired but a tax disc was found in the footwell of the car and the vehicle was seized by police.

Defence advocate Sara-Jayne Dodge said: ’Mr Duxbury advised me he was using a different vehicle from his usual one which had needed repairs.

’He insured the vehicle nine days previously but then forgot the vehicle tax.

’He says he was not trying to circumnavigate the law. It was a genuine error. He had to pay £150 to get the vehicle released and then taxed it for £180.’

Magistrates ordered Duxbury to pay the fine and costs at a rate of £10 per fortnight deducted from benefits.