A TEENAGER who was caught riding a motorbike just three weeks after being hit with a driving ban has been spared jail.
Kieran Robinson, 19, was not wearing a helmet when police spotted him pulling into his drive in Chestnut Close, Jarrow, on January 4.
They arrested him on suspicion of stealing the bike, and discovered that he had been disqualified from driving at Sunderland Magistrates’ Court in December.
He said he didn’t realise he had been banned.
He pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified, driving without wearing a helmet and driving without insurance at South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court.
Glenda Beck, prosecuting, said: “Police received a call to say someone was driving a motorbike without a helmet.
“They saw him going into a drive with it, and arrested him, initially on suspicion of stealing it.
‘Precarious’
“He told them he had just bought it, and the officers discovered that he had appeared in court at Sunderland and been given a ban for taking a car without the owner’s consent.”
Magistrates gave Robinson a 16-week prison sentence, suspended for 18 months with probation service supervision and 100 hours of unpaid work.
He was banned from driving for 18 months, and ordered to pay a £60 victim surcharge.
Chairman of the bench, Dave Errington, said: “You put yourself in a really precarious position.
“You were disqualified and it would have been quite easy for us to send you to prison. The offence does warrant a custodial sentence, but we will suspend it.
“We don’t accept your explanation that you didn’t realise you were disqualified.”
Laura Johnson, defending, said: “He said he was confused about whether he could drive or not.
“He bought the bike from someone in Brockley Whins, and drove it the short distance to his home.”