Onkar Bains, 51, of Grangefield Close, Wolverhampton, was told he was in "last chance saloon" by a magistrate after he admitted driving while disqualified. The warning came during a hearing at Dudley Magistrates' Court on July 30, where he was handed an eight-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months.
Police stop in Tettenhall Road
Police stopped a BMW driven by Bains in Tettenhall Road, Wolverhampton, on the afternoon of April 20. He was unable to show officers his driving licence, and checks revealed he had been disqualified from driving until January 14, 2028.
The court heard that Bains had "several" previous convictions for drink driving and failing to provide a specimen for analysis. His most recent court appearance in March resulted in a 40-month driving ban, yet he committed this offence less than a month later.
Court hearing and plea
Bains pleaded guilty to driving whilst disqualified during the hearing on July 30. His legal representative told the court that Bains was a recovering alcoholic and explained: "He drove a short distance to pick up a neighbour's child. He should have said no."
The magistrate addressed Bains directly, stating: "The court has done a lot to try and help you and you're not taking it. It's difficult to know how to help you to break this cycle. You've been offered help time and time again, this is heading towards a custodial sentence."
Sentence and further disqualification
In addition to the suspended sentence, Bains was ordered to complete 180 hours of unpaid work and pay a victim surcharge of £114 and £85 in court costs. He was also disqualified from driving for a further 18 months, meaning he will now be unable to drive until at least May 21, 2029.
