Driving away from a courtroom which had just banned him from getting behind the wheel has cost Haverfordwest man more than £400.

Gary Lee Hughes, of Old Hakin Road, pleaded guilty to driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence and without third party insurance when he appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates on Tuesday, October 30.

The court heard that Hughes had been previously been banned from driving after he was convicted for two offences following a trial on October 12, but drove away from the court following the hearing, despite a warning from the bench.

Police stopped his Vauxhall Corsa on Thomas Parry Way, Haverfordwest, five minutes later.

Sian Vaughan, prosecuting, said: “It’s an aggravating factor that he was convicted here and drove within such a short space of time.”

Hughes, 36, who represented himself, told the court he had nothing to say about the matter.

Magistrates fined Hughes £150 for each offence, banned him from driving for 12 months and added six penalty points to his licence, taking his total to 15.

He was ordered to pay £85 court costs and a £30 surcharge.

The chairman of the bench said: “This was an extremely irresponsible thing to do, and showed serious contempt for the law and this court.”