A BRIDGWATER man who had nearly finished a four-year driving ban now has another 12-month disqualification after being caught behind the wheel.

Aaron Hughes had bought some tools on Facebook Marketplace and was let down by someone who had agreed to give him a lift.

He decided to chance his luck and got into his car which triggered a police camera indicating the vehicle had no tax and he was pulled over.

Hughes, 31, from the Taunton Road area, pleaded guilty to driving a VW Tiguan on Ilchester Road on June 23. He also admitted driving while disqualified when he appeared before Somerset Magistrates at Yeovil.

The court heard that police were on duty when their attention was drawn to the defendant’s vehicle which triggered an ANPR system for having no road tax.

“They pulled him over on Podimore roundabout and Hughes admitted he was still disqualified following a four-year drink driving ban imposed in 2020,” said prosecutor Ben Winzer.

“He said he was driving to pick up some tools he had bought from Facebook Marketplace saying he had a lift arranged to collect them but he was let down.”

A Probation spokesman said that Hughes apologised to the police at the scene and became quite emotional during interview.

“He had already paid for the tools and accepted he made a stupid and unwise decision to drive on that occasion,” he said.

“He has recently endured a lengthy four-year disqualification, lives in a very isolated area and works as and when he can.”

The magistrates banned Hughes from driving for 12 months and also imposed a community order with a requirement to carry out 150 hours unpaid work.