A MERCY dash to help his migraine-afflicted partner landed Rodney St Barbe in court.

St Barbe, 59, was driving his partner to the stone circle at Avebury because it helped her symptoms, when he was stopped by police and they discovered he was banned from driving. St Barbe, of Chulmleigh, Devon, was caught driving on August 1, four weeks after he was given a six-month driving ban.

He pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified and driving without insurance.

Emm Wrench, defending, told Kennet Magistrates Court in Devizes on Tuesday that St Barbe had no intention of driving on the day in question.

But she added: "His partner suffers from multiple sclerosis and very severe migraines. The only relief she can get is to come to Avebury. She is a believer in the power of the Avebury stones, and for some they do seem to have miraculous effects.

"He said love overtook him and the only thing he could do to relieve his partner's distress was to bring her to Avebury and that is what he did. He does express remorse, the offence was committed out of desperation for the woman he cares for very deeply."

Mrs Wrench said St Barbe, formerly of Broadchalke near Salisbury, had 67 previous convictions.

The six-month driving ban was imposed on July 5 for an offence of aggravated vehicle taking. He was also given 200 hours community punishment. Magistrates imposed an additional 67 hours of community punishment and disqualified him from driving for 12 months.