A MAN from Worcestershire who was caught driving while disqualified for the eighth time has been jailed for six months.

Michael Park, aged 39, of Tiny Meadow, Cleeve Prior Caravan Park, near Evesham, also admitted at Worcester Magistrates Court charges of driving without insurance, a Bail Act offence and breaching a conditional discharge.

Leslie Ashton, prosecuting, said Park was given a 12-month ban on November 19 last year.

He was then arrested for driving while disqualified in July and given a six-month conditional discharge, which included a charge for possessing cannabis.

On Monday, November 1, Park was seen by two police officers approaching a silver Skoda in the car park of the Orchard pub on the A46 at Twyford, near Evesham.

When Park noticed the officers, he walked away from the vehicle.

The officers spoke with Park, who eventually admitted he had driven the car to the pub and handed them the car keys from his pocket. They arrested him for driving while disqualified and he was bailed to attend court on Friday, November 12.

Sam Lamsdale, defending, said Park failed to attend as he had no money to pay for a bus to Worcester. He was arrested on a warrant on Wednesday, November 17.

Ms Lamsdale said that he had only driven to the pub to help jump start a friend’s car.

She recommended a pre-sentence report be prepared with a view to a community order but district judge Bruce Morgan decided immediate custody was the only option. He said: “I don’t need a report, I have sufficient information. You have an appalling record and have constantly breached court orders. You have been caught driving while disqualified on eight occasions and breached a community order three times.”

Park was given five months’ custody for driving while disqualified and given a two-year ban. For the Bail Act offence, he was given one month to be served consecutively.

He was given a £200 fine or one day in custody for driving without insurance but no separate penalty for breaching the conditional discharge