A MAN was caught driving only a fortnight after he had been banned, a court heard yesterday.

Christopher Hollowed, 37, was spotted driving a Vauxhall Cavalier by a police patrol in Bower Road, Harrogate, and identified as a disqualified driver, Sarah Tyrer, prosecuting, told the town's magistrates. The court heard that when he stopped in King's Road and officers tried to arrest him, he told them his name was Patrick McCann. But his woman passenger opened the car door and addressed him as Christopher, said Mrs Tyrer.

When police checks revealed his true identity, Hollowed told them he had been taking his pregnant girlfriend to a chemist.

Hollowed, of Queen's Road, Knaresborough, who was banned from driving on March 31 for driving while disqualified, pleaded guilty to the same offence on April 15. He also admitted not having insurance and obstructing police.

Court chairman Mike Garnett ordered probation reports and warned Hollowed all sentencing options would be considered.

He said: "Driving only a fortnight after a ban is a most serious offence and custody will be one of the options considered."

He agreed to a request by Geoffrey Boothby, defending, to release Hollowed on bail for a month, so that he could be with his partner when she gave birth.

He was ordered to return for sentencing on May 22.