A WOMAN who went to court with her son saved him from being locked up yesterday.

Christopher Dowson, 19, who was banned from driving, was caught behind the wheel again in Hartlepool on April 10 when police stopped it because of a defective headlight.

He gave the false name Brian Langley and was issued with a form to produce his documents.

But when he failed to do so within seven days, a summons was issued against Mr Langley, Teesside Crown Court was told.

The officer in the case visited Mr Langley and was told to speak to Christopher Dowson, of Marine Drive, Hartlepool.

Yesterday, he arrived at court with his mother and was told she was the reason he was not going to be locked up.

The Recorder of Middlesbrough, Peter Fox said: "Your mum has turned up and that matters a great deal. You will be letting her down more than anyone else if you don't take advantage of the order I am to make."

In mitigation, Alex McFaul, said Dowson was responding well to a Community Rehabilitation Order imposed for motoring offences and that he had a job.

Dowson was given a three-year Community Rehabilitation Order and disqualified for two years after he pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified and without insurance, and attempting to pervert the course of justice.