Case of disqualified driver adjourned to look into legal 'loophole'

28-year-old avoids driving ban as UK and Island laws don't match

A court's heard there's no agreement with the UK to ban drivers who rack up too many penalty points on their driving licences.

28-year-old Rajul Alam of Mona Street in Douglas appeared at Douglas courthouse for sentencing before High Bailiff Jayne Hughes.

He's admitted driving whilst disqualified with no insurance on 10 June, and damaging a cell at the custody suite in police headquarters on the same date.

However, the court heard he may not have been banned because of a loophole in the Island's reciprocal agreement with the UK.

Mrs Hughes heard Alam had been banned after eight penalty points were put on his licence by a court in Lancashire.

Although motorists can't drive in the Isle of Man or the UK when a court imposes an outright ban, disqualifications because of totting up procedures in one jurisdiction don't apply in the other.

Mrs Hughes said that could mean Alam technically hadn't been driving while banned.

She adjourned the case while both prosecution and defence advocates look into the issue, and bailed Alam to appear in court again on 12 November.