A YOUNG father with an appalling driving record was caught behind the wheel – again – on his way to Royal Wootton Bassett pick up medication for his sick daughter.

Charlie Gunning appeared in the dock on the driving while disqualified charge just months after he was jailed for over a year for leading police on a 60mph police chase through Trowbridge.

But the 23-year-old managed to swerve an immediate prison sentence after magistrates heard he was committed to changing his ways. Chairman of the bench Alix Smith said she wanted to get Gunning “off the rollercoaster” and break the pattern of his offending.

The court heard police had spotted Gunning behind the wheel of a BMW on the A350 near Melksham at around 9.30pm on Tuesday, October 15.

Officers suspected Gunning was speeding and saw he was not wearing a seatbelt.

Michelle Hewitt, prosecuting, said: “Through their enquiries they ascertained the defendant was driving whilst disqualified. He confirmed the BMW belonged to his aunt and he was driving it without her permission.”

Gunning was already on a three-year driving ban. That disqualification had been imposed by a Swindon Crown Court judge in March after the young man pleaded guilty to dangerous driving.

He was behind the wheel of an Audi A3 when he led police on a 60mph pursuit through Trowbridge that only came to an end when Gunning crashed into another car in a social club car park.

The crown court was told Gunning was just 11-years-old when his dad Ricky died in a car crash. The Royal Wootton Bassett man was the passenger in the Jaguar XJ that ploughed into a roundabout.

Gunning, of Tower Hill, Dilton Marsh, pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified and driving without insurance.

Defending, Mark Glendenning said his client’s young daughter had been born with a heart problem and the dad-of-two was driving to Royal Wootton Bassett to pick up her medication when he was stopped by the police.

Gunning was said to be remorseful and had been working well with the probation service since his release from prison in June.

“He was doing quite well on his licence and then as is often the case with Mr Gunning he makes a stupid mistake and puts himself back squarely at the beginning and at risk of custody,” Mr Glendenning said. The solicitor added that Gunning was now working as a labourer and trying to get his life back in order.

Magistrates sentenced Gunning to four months imprisonment suspended for two years, banned him from driving for a further three years, ordered to complete up to 30 rehabilitation activity days and told to pay £207 in costs and victim surcharge.

Chairman of the bench Alix Smith said: “If we can get you off this rollercoaster [where you] keep driving whilst disqualified it is worth a try.

“Rest assured you will not get this from another bench.”