Breached drivingban for third time

A Buxton man caught driving while disqualified for a third time has been spared jail.
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Jamie Gardner had been banned for 12 months in September last year, High Peak Magistrates’ Court heard.

But police on duty on the A537 Cat and Fiddle saw Gardner driving a Ford Focus on January 14, prosecutor Jennifer Fitzgerald said.

His partner and young son were also in the car and his partner told police she had hired the vehicle for three days solely in her name with her being the only one authorised and insured to use it.

Gardner, 22, of Monsal Avenue, admitted driving whilst disqualified and using a vehicle without insurance.

He had two previous convictions for driving while disqualified, Mrs Fitzgerald told the court.

John Bunting, defending, said: “The defendant was disqualified in September for 12 months under the totting up provisions.

“The car in question was one that had been hired for three days by his partner because they didn’t have a car at that stage.

“The car was quite properly hired in his partner’s name. She was the named driver and she was insured. It’s a one-off rather than him going out to buy a car.”

“There is no sensible reason for the defendant driving.

“They were coming back from Macclesfield and he wanted a go so he planned to drive on the Cat and Fiddle and get out once they got closer to Buxton.

“An unmarked police car was waiting at the Cat and Fiddle and the driver recognised the defendant.

“It was a relatively short distance driven and it was just a damn silly thing to do.”

Gardner was given a 16-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months.

He must comply with a curfew between 7pm and 7am for four months and was banned from driving for 18 months.

He must also pay £85 costs and a surcharge of £80.