A man who suffers from multiple sclerosis has been jailed for driving while disqualified.

Justin Beynon, 25, of Main Road, Little Oakley, admitted driving while disqualified and having no car insurance at Colchester Court yesterday and was jailed for three months.

Gerald Isted, prosecuting, said Beynon drove a Ford Sierra on Harwich Road, Little Oakley, and was recognised by a police officer who knew he was banned.

Mr Isted said Beynon had also failed to appear before the court in connection with the offence on February 18. He admitted failing to appear in court.

The court also heard Beynon had a number of fines outstanding.

Stuart Lindsay, mitigating, said: "Mr Beynon had gone to a house to check on a car he had done some work on. He had got a lift to the address and hadn't expected to be driving the car away."

He said Beynon had not appeared before the court because he was trying to insure his family and business were financially secure.

Mr Lindsay added: "Mr Beynon accepts he knew he should have been here and says it was unintentional."

Beynon was sentenced to three months in prison for driving while disqualified and one month for failing to surrender to bail.

He was also ordered to serve 14 days for the outstanding fines. All three were to run concurrently.

Beynon was also disqualified from driving for 12 months.

Published Tuesday, April 9, 2002