Suspended sentence for disqualified driver

A disqualified driver has received a suspended prison sentence after giving one of his children a lift in his car.

Gary Burbidge of Main Road, Toynton All Saints, admitted driving whilst disqualified at Partney Road, Spilsby on February 28, when he appeared before a District Judge at Skegness Magistrates Court.

Paul Wood, prosecuting, said Burbidge had been disqualified from driving in October last year for failing to provide a breath test.

He said Burbidge was stopped by police just after 6pm on the A16 in his Peugeot. He had his young son with him.

He was arrested and told police he lived in a rural location and his car was his only form of transport.

In mitigation, Gordon Holt said Burbidge was estranged from his wife but the children of the marriage lived mainly with him.

He said that on the day of the offence, his wife, who normally collected the children from school, rang him to say she could not pick one of the children up and so Burbidge drove his car to pick the boy up and take him for a meal.

He was on his way home when he was stopped, said Mr Holt.

The court heard that Burbidge was presently on a community order with compulsory alcohol treatment and that, as a result, he was now mainly free of alcohol.

Mr Holt told the judge that Burbidge was in danger of losing that progress if he was sent into custody.

After standing the case down for a report from the probation service, District Judge Toms imposed a 16-week prison sentence suspended for 12 months and ordered Burbidge observe an electronically monitored curfew from 7pm to 7am every day for the next three months.

He was also disqualified from driving for 12 months and ordered to pay £85 in court costs and a £80 victim surcharge.