Can't Drive? Don't Go To The Police Station!

Thanks again to Sue & David for another great tip from across the big pond.
Courtesy of Cambridge News

DOPEY motorist Robert Busby has been jailed for driving while disqualified - after pulling up at a police station to drop off his girlfriend.

And just two days later police caught him behind the wheel again.

The 37-year-old admitted two charges of driving while disqualified, driving without insurance and stealing a basket-full of groceries when he appeared at Ely Magistrates' Court.

Richard Insall, prosecuting, said:

"A police officer at Ely police station saw the defendant getting into the Astra van and saw the vehicle being driven away after he had dropped off his partner. The second offence was in Littleport at 11am two days later when an officer saw the defendant driving off in another vehicle."

The court also heard that Busby, of Wisbech Road, Littleport, stole a basket of items from the Co-op on June 9 after he walked into the store and took them to feed himself and his girlfriend.

In mitigation, Jacqui Baldwin asked magistrates to send the unemployed ex-drug dealer to prison because he was worried he would offend again.

She said: "The couple are in an untenable position. Their benefits stopped in April and since then there has been no income for them.

"The theft occurred because the family was hungry and the driving while disqualified occurred because his partner needed to get to the police station and they couldn't afford the bus.

"A friend offered to loan him the vehicle but he drove just a month before the ban was due to expire."

She told the court the couple were due to have their benefits reinstated but it was taking months to get it sorted out. She also said the theft of the groceries was committed while Busby was on bail for other matters.

Miss Baldwin added: "He has a long history of heroin abuse and he was a drug dealer. He has stopped that lifestyle but life is extremely difficult for him and his partner so I would ask you to consider custody for these matters."

Magistrates jailed him for two months and banned him from driving for 12 months.