DESPITE having a record of 17 driving bans in what was described as a 'most unenviable record,' an Accrington man escaped being sent to jail when he appeared before a court.

The reason Rochdale magistrates did not jail John Horner, 48, of Richmond Hill Street, was because the divorced father-of-three had already spent the equivalent of a four-month sentence in custody. Magistrates put him on probation for 12 months, added a further two years to a current three-year ban, ordered him to pay costs of £100 and also told him to continue attending a driving offenders' programme.

He had admitted driving while banned and without insurance in Tweedale Street, Rochdale and then, a few days later while still subject to bail conditions, driving in Richmond Hill Street, Accrington, while disqualified and without insurance. Andrew Holt, prosecuting, said Horner had been stopped in Rochdale because he was weaving across the road and officers thought he was under the influence of drink.

In fact, a test showed him to have a nil reading for intoxicants, but his appalling driving record and the fact he was subject to a three-year disqualification came to light.

Only days after being bailed by Rochdale Police, Horner was stopped in Accrington committing similar offences.

Horner, the court was told, had experienced the whole range of sentencing from prison to community service.

His lawyer, David Chad, said: "It has to be admitted he has a most unenviable record as far as driving while disqualified is concerned.

"All I can say is that he was full and frank in his admissions when he was stopped on these two occasions and he has served the equivalent of a four-month prison sentence in custody awaiting these matters."

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