A MAN who took his wife’s car without her permission and crashed it into a bus shelter in Bridgwater has been given a 12-month driving ban.

Mark Buxton was not insured and had an expired provisional licence when police arrived at the scene after the vehicle had swerved off the road.

Police checks revealed the car was registered to the defendant’s wife and he admitted that he had not held a full licence since the 1980s.

Buxton, 63, of Houndwood Close, Street, pleaded guilty to taking a vehicle without the owner’s consent and driving it without insurance or a licence on August 6 when he appeared before Somerset Magistrates at Yeovil.

Prosecutor Genna Morgan said that police were called to the scene of an accident in Durleigh Road, Bridgwater at 7.30am.

“A witness had reported the defendant’s vehicle swerving off the road before crashing into a bus shelter and when police arrived at the scene Buxton identified himself as the driver,” she said.

Further checks confirmed the vehicle was only registered to Buxton’s wife, who confirmed she had not given him permission to drive it, and the defendant was found to have an expired provisional licence.

During interview with the police Buxton admitted the offences saying he had not held a driving licence since the 1980s.

A spokesperson for the Probation Service told the court that Buxton was remorseful abut his actions and rarely drank alcohol and did not use drugs. He also did not leave the family home very often due to a medical condition.

The magistrates disqualified the defendant from driving for 12 months and fined him £200 with £85 costs and an £80 victim surcharge.