A TRAP railway engineer who drove a van while serving an 18-month ban has been ordered to carry out 50 hours of unpaid work.

Christopher Leslie Norman Jones, of Ty Cennen, pleaded guilty at Llanelli Magistrates Court to driving while disqualified and without insurance on the A483 on Tuesday, March 10, at 9.50am.

Prosecuting, Sian Vaughan told the court that police officers spotted a Vauxhall Corsa van driven by Jones and decided to follow it.

“The officers decided to stop the vehicle and check the 46-year-old's details,” said Ms Vaughan.

“After officers completed their checks it became apparent that Jones had been disqualified for driving following a previous offence in January of this year.

Defence solicitor Tom Scapens told the court that Jones did not realise he had been banned from driving.

“On the January 30 Jones, who works as a full-time railway engineer, claims he was completely unaware he had been disqualified.

“However, there had been an 18-month driving disqualification imposed on him on January 30 this year.

“His wife now chauffeurs him to and from work – but this can be difficult at times as they have a child with autism who requires 24-hour care.

District Judge David Parsons, sentenced Jones to 50 hours of unpaid work and disqualified him from driving for six months to run concurrent with the previous 18-month disqualification.

Jones was also ordered to pay £85 costs and £60 victim surcharge.