A DRIVER who was spared jail after clocking up his 17th conviction for driving whilst banned has been slammed by road safety groups.

Brian Cooper, 33 was caught driving six months into his latest disqualification.

Pendle MP Andrew Stephenson said that Cooper should have been sent to prison, and called for tougher penalties for such drivers.

And road safety group the RAC Foundation said Cooper, of Belgrave Road, Colne, had shown “a lack of respect” to other drivers and the road safety system.

Cooper, who also has a series of convictions for other crimes such as criminal damage and burglary, told Burnley Magistrates Court that he had driven because he was helping his friend out.

He was banned for five years in December 2009 for drink driving, and he has a range of other motoring convictions that have led to bans.

Last time he defied a ban he was jailed, but had been sentenced for other offences as well.

This time he was given 60 days in jail, suspended for 12 months, with 120 hours unpaid work.

He was also given another driving ban of five years.

Mr Stephenson said: “He has shown a complete disregard for road safety.

“I am very concerned about people like this and one of my first questions in Parliament was about uninsured drivers.

“We have a real problem with drivers who drive without a licence, without insurance or while banned.

“To have 17 convictions is just ridiculous and he should have been sent to jail, the courts need to be tough on these people.

“We should be cracking down more on drivers without a licence, insurance or driving whilst banned, instead of focusing on speed cameras and the revenue raising that brings.

“It is these drivers that are dangerous for the law abiding motorists and pedestrians.”

A spokesman for the RAC Foundation said: “Anyone who defies a driving ban is showing a lack of respect for a system which contributes to the UK’s excellent road safety record.

“With 34 million vehicles on the UK road network, it is vital that everyone complies with motoring law, otherwise there would be chaos.

“Anyone who drives has a responsibility to the rest of the community to ensure that he or she does so safely, and according to the regulations.

“If you don’t, magistrates can take away your licence.”

Chairman David Bennett told the defendant that the bench was “concerned” about his 16 previous convictions for similar offences and they had considered sending him straight back to jail.

Mr Bennett said: “You really are on a knife edge. You really have to be on your best behaviour for the next 12 months.

“If you do it again I hope the next bench takes the appropriate action and takes you off the road in such a way you can't get near a vehicle.”

Kat Whitemoss, senior communications officer at the Lancashire Road Safety Partnership, said that Cooper had clearly had little concern for other road users.

“This man is obviously a prolific offender with no respect for the laws of the road and little concern for the danger he is causing to other road users”, she said.

“We would urge anyone considering getting behind a wheel while banned to consider the consequences, not just to themselves and the convictions they face but the risk they will be causing to others should their reckless behaviour cause a tragic collision.”