A man who drove whilst he was disqualified was "not aware" of the ban imposed against him, Harrogate Magistrates Court heard this week.

Charlie Ledger appeared at court on Thursday (October 16) when he pleaded guilty to driving whilst disqualified and driving without insurance.

Sarah Tyrer, prosecuting, told the court a police officer was on patrol on the A1(M) at around 5pm on April 5 this year.

A Nissan Navaro caught the officer’s attention as it drove past him at speed, so he followed it.

The officer spoke to the driver – Ledger – after stopping him at junction 46 near Kirk Deighton and checks soon revealed the defendant’s insurance policy expired in February.

He had also been disqualified from driving on February 13, the court heard.

Ms Tyrer said police told Ledger he would be reported for the offences, but added he had no previous convictions and was banned from driving due to “totting matters”.

'He did not know he had been disqualified'

Mr Coleman, defending, told the magistrates the case was a “fairly grave misunderstanding”.

He said Ledger, of Croxall Drive in Stanley, Wakefield, was banned from driving in February after totting up penalty points.

However, the defendant claimed he did not receive the court summons at the time and was convicted in his absence, so he “was not aware he had been disqualified”.

The court heard Ledger’s insurance was set to automatically renew. However, his post was being sent to a property he owned but did not visit regularly, so he was not aware it had expired. 

Ledger’s previous disqualification was due to end in September, meaning he would have served the ban by the time the case came to court.

Mr Coleman added Ledger, 30, owns an electrical company and has never been in trouble with the police or the courts.

Ledger was banned from driving for six months and ordered to pay a total of £946 to the court. This comprised a £615 fine, a £246 surcharge and £85 in prosecution costs.