A DEESIDE man has admitted his 30th conviction for driving while disqualified.

But a court heard that Stephen Richard Gorman had largely turned his life around and that his last conviction had been six years ago.

Flintshire magistrates’ court in Mold was told police saw Gorman drive a Vauxhall Vectra from Connah’s Quay High Street into Fron Road and then park near the Boathouse public house.

He was stopped as he walked into a taxi office but told police his driving ban was over.

But the court heard that the previous ban was to stay in place until he had passed an extended driving test, which he had not done.

Brian Cross, defending, said there had been a tremendous change in his client’s lifestyle.

When he was younger he was in court almost every month for driving while disqualified and taking vehicles.

But he had turned his life around and the circumstances of the present offence were entirely different.

He was the carer for his partner who owned the car but they had been worried that it would be damaged in a layby on the high street and he decided to move it a very short distance to the safety of a car park, when he was caught by police.

Gorman, 41, of High Street, Connah’s Quay, admitted driving while disqualified and without insurance and was placed on a 12 month community order.

He must carry out a 30 day programme to improve his education and employment
prospects and was also ordered to pay £85 costs.