Stratford van driver caught behind the wheel a month after careless driving ban

A STRATFORD man was caught driving just a month after receiving a 12-month ban following a conviction for careless driving.

Warwickshire Police said Karl Andrew Webb, 30, from Birmingham Road, received his first ban on 13th June after an incident of careless driving on the A46 near Stratford on 18th November 2022 resulted in serious injuries to another driver.

Officers from Warwickshire Rural Crime Team then spotted Webb driving his removal van in Stratford on 6th July.

PC Andy Steventon said: “We were shocked to discover he’d been banned from driving for a period of 12 months less than 30 days prior to us stopping him. This was as a result of him admitting guilt for causing serious injuries to another driver back in November 2022.

“He was interviewed at the roadside for driving while disqualified and as well as receiving another court date to discuss the matter with a magistrate, his van was also seized.”

At Coventry Magistrates’ Court on 30th October Webb was sentenced to a 16-month driving ban and a 12-month community order with a 15-day rehabilitation activity requirement.

He was fined £307 and ordered to pay £135 costs and a £114 victim surcharge. His licence was also endorsed for driving without insurance.

PC Steventon added: “When he appeared in court for the careless driving offence, he apologised for the harm he caused his victim and at the time the magistrate was appalled at footage of his driving.

“By continuing to drive whilst disqualified, Webb put himself and other road users at risk of harm. There is no excuse. This is a serious offence especially so soon after being disqualified.

“His guilty plea was taken into consideration when imposing the sentence and it seems he may have narrowly avoided the maximum sentence of six months in custody.”

After the 16-month ban, Webb will need to apply for a new driving licence and retake his driving test.