A YOUNG Darlington man narrowly avoided being sent to prison after pleading guilty to driving while disqualified.

Robert Thompson, of Portland Place, already had numerous convictions for driving while banned from the roads and has never passed his driving test.

The 20-year-old was also sentenced for driving with no insurance, when he appeared at Darlington Magistrates' Court yesterday.

Thompson was given a four-month suspended sentence, which will run for 18 months. He was also forbidden from getting behind the wheel of a car for a further two years.

Mitigating, Graham Hunsley said: "I have known my client for some time and even when he was 15 years old he was fascinated by vehicles.

"Any disqualification will be tough for him, but he knows he has done wrong.

"I hope that when his disqualification is over, which won't be for some time, he will go about things properly and take lessons and his test."

Thompson was caught driving on July 23. As well as a suspended sentence, he will be made to complete 100 hours of unpaid work in the community, which has to be carried out in the next 12 months. He will also take part in a citizenship programme.

Chairman of the bench, Christopher Day, told Thompson: "If you breach your disqualification again, I have no doubt you will be sent to jail.

"We have taken into account your early guilty plea, but we also have to consider you intentionally broke the law, knowing what the consequences could be."