A MAN described as always going “the extra mile” for his friends was stopped by police and found to be driving while disqualified.

Laurence Andrew Daniels, 53, of Moel Gron, Mynydd Isa, who is the sole carer for his mother, had borrowed a friend's car to take her shopping, but was stopped by police less than a mile into his journey for not wearing a seat belt.

Justin Espie, prosecuting, told North East Wales Magistrates Court how Daniels had been driving a Volskwagon Golf on Liverpool Road in Buckley at around 5pm on October 18, and when stopped, immediately told officers how he had been given a four year driving ban in 2018 and had borrowed the car off a friend.

Brian Cross, defending, read out a letter of reference from the defendant's GP, in which he described Daniels as being “a very genial and helpful individual, who always goes the extra mile for his friends”.

Mr Cross added how Daniels’ mother, whom he lives with, had wanted to go shopping and he had shown “an error of judgment” when agreeing to drive her.

He added Daniels had faced a dilemma because his mother, who is more often than not confined to the house, had not been out for more than a week due to a friend who normally takes her being away on holiday.

Probation officer Andrew Connah, said Daniels, who works as a roofer, was extremely remorseful and realised he should have looked at other ways of taking his mother shopping which didn’t involve breaking the law.

It had been a one-off mistake, he would not do it again and had now told his mother about the offence.

Daniels was ordered to complete a 12 month community order, which includes 100 hours of unpaid work, and banned him from driving again for four years. He was also ordered to pay costs of £85 and a surcharge of £90.