A MAN has been banned and fined after police caught him driving whilst his licence was revoked.

John Bartlett, of The Gelli in Willington, Malpas, appeared at Wrexham Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

The 47-year-old admitted that on April 28, at Salisbury Road in Wrexham, he drove a motor vehicle otherwise than in accordance with a licence, and without insurance.

Rhian Jackson, prosecuting, told the court that at around 1am, officers had cause to speak with Bartlett, who had been driving a Citroen C5.

When police checked his details, they discovered that his driving licence had been revoked and he was not named on the vehicle's insurance.

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During his police interview, he made a full and frank admission to the fact that his licence had been revoked three years ago on medical grounds.

Melissa Griffiths, defending told the court Bartlett had "long standing alcohol problems" and that following discussions with his GP, he'd voluntarily surrendered his licence to the DVLA as a "means of encouraging him not to drive."

The digital marketing worker had been experiencing a lot of stress at the time of the offence, she said, adding: "His father suffered a life-changing stroke 18 months ago and he had complex business affairs.

"[Bartlett] has been trying to deal with sorting those out and on this particular day, he wanted to buy some alcohol.

The Leader:

"Foolishly, he took his mother's car."

Deputy District Judge Paul Conlon handed down fines totalling £450 for the offences, and ordered Bartlett to pay a victim surcharge of £180 and £85 costs.

The defendant received six points on his licence which - when added to an existing six imposed for an earlier speeding offence, saw him banned for six months.