AN 82-year-old war veteran claimed last night he has been made a prisoner in his home after becoming the oldest person in Britain to wear an electronic tag.

John Burns is to appeal after being fitted with a tag and placed on a curfew, preventing him from leaving his home after 8pm.

Teesside Magistrates' Court took the action after the grandfather was caught driving twice within seven weeks while being disqualified for driving without due care and attention.

But Burns, of Cowpen Crescent, Stockton, claimed he had forgotten about the disqualification, and said he needed his car because ill-health made it difficult for him to walk.

"I feel very depressed," said the widower.

"I think it's very unfair. I have been driving for 50-plus years and it's only in the last four or five months that it's all gone to hell.

"I'm lost without my car, and I can't sleep for this tag on my ankle. It's knocking hell out of me."

Burns was disqualified from driving for eight weeks earlier this year, for driving on the wrong side of the road - something he denied.

He was told he could get his licence back, provided he re-sat his test.

But the test never took place and he did not get his licence back.

Then in March, he was found to be over the drink-driving limit after his Kia Picanto clipped a van while he was leaving Hardwick Club, in Stockton.

Tests showed he had 115mg of alcohol in 100ml of blood. The legal limit is 80.

Then last month, the pensioner, who served in the Royal Navy during the Second World War, returned home in his car from a trip to the shops - and found the police waiting for him.

They had arrived to talk to him about his impending drink-driving court case.

When they saw that he was continuing to drive, they clamped his car and towed it away, before charging him again with driving while disqualified.

He pleaded guilty to the charges earlier this month, but magistrates said they had no choice but to ban him from the roads for three years, give him a 12-month community order, and demand £60 costs.

He was also electronically tagged for six months and placed on a curfew - between 8pm and 8am - until November 1.

Burns, who received a number of medals for his service during the war, said he was awaiting legal aid and planned to appeal.

He said: "The last time, I only nipped about 300 yards to the local shops for some food for me and the dog.

"I suffer with emphysema and

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