A dad who repeatedly flouts motoring laws must never get the wheel again, magistrates heard.

George Edward Barnes, 41, who clocked up two driving-while-disqualified convictions from last summer, had not taken a driving test.

He would not be able to do it because he thought he was too thick to do the theory part, the court was told.

Barnes, of Malvern Avenue, Padiham, admitted two charges of banned driving and no insurance and had been staring jail in the face.

He was given a four-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, a community order with supervision for two years and the Think First programme.

The defendant must also observe a four-month curfew from Mondays to Saturdays, between 8pm and 6am.

He was banned for five years but his solicitor told the court Barnes accepted he must never get behind the wheel of a car again.

The chairman told the defendant the bench had had to think very carefully about the offences as their instinct had been to send him to custody and he well deserved it.

He went on: "You must realise this is your last chance now. Next time you are going down without any argument."

Richard Taylor, defending, said Barnes had learned his lesson. His wife was terrified at the prospect of him going to jail.

Mr Taylor said Barnes felt he was too thick to pass the theory test.