Disqualified driver was behind the wheel

Paul Baggott, 46, of Cunliffe Road, Blackpool, pleaded guilty to driving while banned.

Andrew Robinson, prosecuting, said police saw Baggott driving a Toyota on Dickson Road on December 31 at 11am.

Checks revealed he had been banned previously for driving dangerously and had not taken the required retest.

At the time, Baggott was on a suspended prison sentence for permitting premises to be used for cannabis production.

Peter Manning, defending, said Baggott’s disqualification ended in 2009. He had misunderstood the condition about the retest.

Baggott was sentenced to 40 hours’ unpaid work for the community, fined £250 with £85 costs and ordered to pay £25 victims’ surcharge by magistrates.