Banned driver tried to give false name

Michael Collins, 22, was spotted behind the wheel of a battered white transit van in Bexhill last Saturday after police became suspicious.

At a court hearing last Monday, Kevin Thompson, prosecuting, said the van was heading towards Little Common.

He said: "Officers were concerned as the vehicle was in a poor state of repair. They found out it was not insured and had no MOT.

"They signalled the driver to stop, who drove into Chestnut Walk.

"He gave the name Andy Murphy when asked for his details.

"He was shaking and police said they were going to make arrangements for a fingerprinting device. It was then the defendant gave his real details."

Collins, who lives in Maidstone, Kent, pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified, having no insurance and driving with no MOT. He also admitted obstructing police.

Alison Pringle, defending, said: "The defendant suffers from depression, stress and anxiety.

"He has over the past two years had a lot of problems with bereavement.

"He witnessed his dad being shot and murdered. He is a traveller and goes around doing landscape gardening.

"The defendant was just extremely frightened about the circumstances when he was arrested."

The court heard Collins was banned from driving for 18 months last August.

They jailed him for 120 days and extended his ban by another two years.