Man defies driving ban in stolen car

Andreas man sentenced to community service

An Andreas man has had his driving ban extended after being caught breaching it in a stolen car.

Thirty-year-old James Anthony Mckenzie of the Laravine Estate appeared before magistrates at Douglas courthouse.

He pleaded guilty to taking a vehicle without its owner's consent, driving while disqualified and having no insurance on 9 September.

Prosecution advocate Barry Swain told the hearing Mckenzie took his girlfriend's grey Ford Focus from Minorca Hill without asking her permission.

He then drove the car to Douglas, where a police officer on patrol recognised him as a banned driver and stopped him on Alexander Drive.

Defence advocate David Clegg told the court his client had roughly two months of his driving ban left, but had been told a relative in the UK was seriously ill.

He said Mckenzie had made a stupid decision to take his girlfriend's car to Douglas to find out ferry information as he planned to travel across.

Magistrates imposed a combination order of 50 hours community service and 12 months of probation supervision.

He was also ordered to pay prosecution costs of £125 and had an extra six months added onto his driving ban.