A CLITHEROE man was caught behind the wheel the day after he was banned from driving for three years.

Blackburn magistrates heard that Peter John Taylor told police he thought he had 24 hours 'grace' before the ban took effect.

Taylor, 34, of Curzon Street, pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified and without insurance. Sentence was deferred for six months after defence solicitor Michael Blacklidge asked the magistrates to give Taylor a chance to prove himself.

The magistrates passed sentence after reading a pre-sentence report and Mr Blacklidge said it was clear from the report that Taylor could well have been confused because of previous problems.

"At first glance it seems a lame excuse, but he genuinely thought he had a day's grace," said Mr Blacklidge. "This was an aberration on his part and I would ask you to give him a chance to prove himself."

Mr Blacklidge said that after he had been banned Taylor planned to sell his car. It was parked at the end of the street and he drove it round the block, intending to park it outside his house, but was stopped on the way.

"This was not the flagrant disregard for the order of the court which it might at first appear to be," said Mr Blacklidge.