A DISQUALIFIED driver has been banned from driving for a further two years and ordered to complete 180 hours unpaid work after taking over the wheel when his partner fell ill.

Albert Hauxwell was spotted by police driving on Commercial Street in his hometown of Willington at about 11.40am on March 14, magistrates in Newton Aycliffe were told.

The 53-year-old, from the Hall Lane Estate, was initially banned from driving for 60 months in 2007 after being convicted of drink driving.

In 2009 he breached his ban, for which he was disqualified for a further five months and ordered to complete 150 hours unpaid work, the court heard.

Prosecutor Andrea Milsom said officers recognised Hauxwell, who was driving Proton Compass, and pulled him over.

He also admitted driving without insurance.

Darren Brown, in mitigation, said Hauxwell and his partner had driven to Crook Police Station for another matter, but she became too unwell to drive them back to Willington so Hauxwell took over.

Mr Brown said: “He made a foolish mistake and it was a decision he deeply regrets.”

As well as the new ban and unpaid work, Hauxwell also had eight penalty points placed on his licence for the no insurance offence and was ordered to pay £85 costs and a £60 victim surcharge.