A LANCE corporal, who was caught making a supplies delivery while disqualified and uninsured, was not assertive enough when he told his commanding officer he could not do it, a court has heard.

Mesake Kenilivalu Buadromo of Slessor Road, Lyneham, pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified and driving without insurance on Rowden Hill before magistrates at North Wiltshire Magistrates Court on Thursday.

The court heard how Buadromo was pulled over in a layby near the Hungry Horse pub on July 29 after police were alerted to his Ford Mondeo through the automatic number plate recognition system.

The 38-year-old told police that he knew he had been disqualified from driving in February for 22 months but was not aware that he did not have insurance as he continued to make the payments.

After probation had compiled a report on Baudromo, the officer told court that he had been asked to make a delivery somewhere from his commanding officer but was not sure that he had told the army base of his court appearance.

The officer said: "He said I can't do it to his commanding officer but when he asked again, he got in the car. I don't think he was assertive enough and I do not know if they know of his convictions. If he got a suspended sentence today he would lose his job."

Sentening Baudromo, chair of the bench Alison Auvray told him that his situation put them in a difficult position.

"If we followed our sentencing guidelines you would lose your job," she said. "I really want to give you a lecture about being honest with your employer and if you had been honest you might not be here in the first place.

"We are going to go against our guidelines with huge reluctance and we will impose a community order of unpaid work of 98 hours. For driving without insurance we are going to fine you £353 and you must pay £85 in costs and a victim surcharge of £85."

Buadromo also had his disqualification extended to two years, meaning he cannot drive until December 2018.