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A disqualified driver has been given a prison sentence for flouting his ban twice within months under "unusual circumstances".

Stephen Leslie Marin was given a one year ban in October 2018 for drink driving.

But a month later he was back in the driver's seat - and then again the month after that.

Teesside Magistrates' Court heard on Tuesday that the breaches were the result of two situations the 60-year-old found himself in.

Firstly, on November 26 Marin was a passenger in his own car which was being driven by his pal down the A19, at Stockton.

"Police observed a Ford Mondeo that a check revealed had an expired MOT", prosecutor, Paul Doney, said.

"They indicated the vehicle to stop, it did stop in a lay-by, and the defendant was sitting in the passenger seat.

"He was also the owner of the car."

The court heard that the person driving the car was taken away by police during inquiries, and an officer told Marin to move the vehicle from the lay-by.

(Image: TeessideLive)

Dad-of-four, Marin, not explaining he was banned, drove the car away to a nearby garage.

It was only later, through checks, that police realised Marin was actually disqualified.

Then unluckily for him, police attended his home in Malvern Road, Oxbridge, on December 4, just as he was reversing the same Ford Mondeo up the street.

Chris Marley, defending Marin, who was uninsured on both occasions, said the offences were committed under "unusual circumstances".

Speaking of the first breach, he said: "Police told him he had to move the car from the lay-by.

"In a panic, he got in the car and drove it a mile to an MOT station to get it booked in.

"He understands he should have told the police he was disqualified."

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Speaking of the December breach, he added: "He received a note through his door to say his car was blocking a neighbour's garage.

"He was parking it near his home".

A probation report said he felt "pressured" by the police to move his car when on the A19 and that he "struggled financially" and had a whole host of health issues including gout and heart problems.

Marin was given a 10 week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months and was made subject to a 12 week curfew.

He was ordered to pay £200 costs and 12 points were put on his driving licence.