A MOTOR trader was caught driving away from the court that had just banned him from the road.

John Thomson's Mercedes was stopped by police when he was just a quarter-of-a-mile from Blackpool Magistrates' Court.

Thomson, aged 49, of Abbott Court, Westhoughton, pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified and without insurance.

He was sentenced to do 60 hours' unpaid work for the community, had six penalty points put on his licence, and was told to pay £43 costs.

Prosecutor Suzie Privett, said Thomson appeared before magistrates on December 30 last year for drink-driving and was banned for 16 months.

He was spotted on CCTV cameras driving away from the car park next to the courts and stopped by police.

Roger Allinson, defending, said Thomson had presumed his ban began at midnight, and he had no other way of getting home.

Mr Allinson said: "He says he was not told the ban had immediate effect. This offence was a mistake rather than a case of someone who does not give two hoots."

Thomson had suffered domestic problems with the break-up of his marriage and the imprisonment of his eldest son.

Mr Allinson added: "When he was stopped after driving away from the court, there was no chase. He stopped immediately."