Sharp-eyed officers spotted a disqualified driver on his way to enjoy a quiet night with his partner.

Matthew Roderick Frank, of Bush Street, Pembroke Dock, pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified and without third-party insurance when he appeared at Haverfordwest magistrates court on Tuesday, April 16.

Vaughan Pritchard-Jones, prosecuting, told the court that Frank, 21, who had been disqualified from driving in July 2018, was spotted behind the wheel of a Mitsubishi Lancer on the A487 at Fishguard on March 30.

“The officers suspected that he was driving while disqualified, and checks confirmed their suspicions.”

Frank stated he had borrowed the car to drop his son off, because he was planning a ‘nice rest with the missus’, but admitted that was not a good reason for driving.

Mr Pritchard-Jones added: “he had driven from Pembroke Dock to Fishguard, and it was a deliberate act, a calculated risk.

“One can assume that the next day he would have got in the car and driven back to Pembroke Dock.”

Mark Layton, defending, said Frank’s remorse was expressed through his early guilty plea, and the offence had been committed a long way into the ban.

The court heard that Frank needed his licence in order to return to work, and was disappointed with himself for committing the offence.

Magistrates sentenced Frank to 200 hours of unpaid work and banned him from driving for nine months.

He was ordered to pay £170 in costs and a surcharge and six penalty points were added to his licence.