A MOTORIST who was jailed and lost his licence for dangerous driving has been banned for another three years.

Charlie Gunning, 22, of Shakespeare Road in Royal Wootton Bassett, was driving while disqualified in a car he had bought because he didn’t like walking, Swindon Magistrates Court was told.

The bench heard that when officers stopped the car on July 19 they smelled cannabis inside it.

Keith Ballinger, prosecuting, said: “At 1.45am, officers on patrol in Westbury saw a Renault Clio driving in the opposite direction and were aware that the vehicle has been notified as being off-road and was uninsured.

“Mr Gunning was driving whilst disqualified and, when they stopped him, there was a smell of cannabis in the car.

“He admitted that he had smoked some and was then taken back to the station to provide a blood specimen. He admitted in interview to driving the car.

“He said he didn’t want to walk all the time and bought a vehicle knowing he was not allowed to drive it and knowing it had no insurance.

“Then he refused to provide a blood sample because he was tired and didn’t like needles.”

The prosecutor added: “Mr Gunning had been previously sentenced to prison at Swindon Crown Court for dangerous driving but the court didn’t deal with these other offences at the time.”

Gunning pleaded guilty to using a car without insurance, driving whilst disqualified, failing to provide a specimen for analysis and failing to surrender to court bail.

Mark Glendenning, defending, said: “It’s an unfortunate series of events.

“At his sentencing, these matters were adjourned and it was our understanding that the judge would sentence him for both the dangerous driving and these other matters.

“For whatever reason, that hasn’t happened.”

Gunning is currently in jail as a result of his dangerous driving conviction and is due to be released on November 25. The magistrates gave him an eight-week prison sentence which will run concurrently to his existing sentence.

Gunning was disqualified from driving for three years and 26 days. He must also pay £115 to victim services.