A MAN banned from driving was caught behind the wheel while on a family holiday.

Stephen James Harris, 31, was still subject to a driving ban until October 31, when he was visiting the North Wales area on holiday to Towyn, Conwy in July.

His Jaguar was stopped on the A483 in Ruabon on July 21, and he was found to have no licence and no insurance.

Appearing at Wrexham Magistrates Court, Harris, of Bredon Court, Halesowen in the West Midlands, admitted the offences.

Rob Blakemore, prosecuting, said: "He was stopped on the A483 in Ruabon and asked for a driving licence when he admitted he was disqualified from driving.

"Checks discovered he was banned until October 2018, and in interview he confirmed he also had no insurance and had just driven from Towyn on a family holiday."

Andy Holliday, defending, said Harris had made the decision to drive to Towyn because of a pre-booked family holiday, adding that "he didn't want to let his family down".

District judge Gwyn Jones drew back from sending Harris to prison and instead gave him a 12 month suspended prison sentence of 16 weeks.

He said: "This is a matter where you deliberately travelled from the West Midlands to this area for a family holiday hoping officers from the North Wales area would not notice.

"This was a deliberate and flagrant disregard of a court order."

Harris was ordered to carry out 140 hours unpaid work, and was banned from driving for two years.

He will also pay £85 costs and a £150 victim surcharge.