A MAN caught driving without a driving licence failed to persuade magistrates he should not be banned from getting behind the wheel.
Ayden Armstong-Buller made his appeal at Worcester Magistrates Court on Friday, (June 16).
The court clerk explained that the 27-year-old was stopped by police in a Ford Transit on Worcester Road in Wychbold, near Droitwich, on September 29 last year.
Police checks revealed Armstong-Buller had a provisional licence but had no L-plates on the van and no one was supervising him.
Additionally, with no full driving licence, the defendant had no insurance to drive the vehicle.
Magistrates heard Armstong-Buller, who defended himself, already had points on his licence from a similar offence which meant he was facing a totting ban.
The defendant explained he wanted to plead exceptional hardship reasons to avoid the ban saying: "If I don't get disqualified, I can pass my driving test."
The court clerk explained to Armstong-Buller, of Allerton Lane, West Bromwich, that to convince the magistrates he had to show hardship to another person and it had to be exceptional.
In the witness box Armstong-Buller said his mum had lost her leg providing evidence to prove that.
He said he wanted to take her to doctors appointments and also take her out as she was "stuck in her home".
The clerk asked, as Armstong-Buller wasn't currently driving, how she was currently getting to appointments - the defendant replying through lifts organised by the NHS.
READ MORE: Police 'recognise concerns' after neighbours rang 999 before Alfie Steele murdered
READ MORE: Alleged rape in Worcester city centre
READ MORE: Meet the new owners of The Raven pub on Droitwich Road
Armstong-Buller revealed the van was his and his partner was insured to drive it.
Magistrates left the courtroom to deliberate and, after around 15 minutes, returned to tell Armstong-Buller they had found his reasons didn't meet the hardship criteria.
For the latest court and crime stories why not sign up to Sam Greenway's weekly newsletter? It's easy, just sign up for our email newsletters here and all the important stories that matter to you will be delivered straight to your inbox.
Chairman of the bench, John Hill, said they couldn't consider what might be advantageous in the future so rejected his appeal.
Armstong-Buller was given a six-month disqualification after being given an additional eight points on his licence.
The defendant was fined £120 and ordered to pay costs of £96 and victim surcharge of £48.
The chairman warned Armstong-Buller not to get behind the wheel while disqualified pointing out he could go to prison for that offence.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here