A father with an "impulsive behaviour" has been told by a court it is his “last chance saloon” after he narrowly avoided being sent straight to prison for repeatedly driving while disqualified.
Glyn Sadler, 35, was caught driving through Kerry, near Newtown in his partner’s Mitsubishi L200 on his way to a work shift on April 25 after he couldn't get a lift.
Sadler, of Brithdir, Llangurig, was sentenced to 12 weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months after pleading guilty to driving whilst disqualified and without third party insurance when he appeared at Welshpool Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, May 23.
Rebecca Klug, chairman of the magistrates’ bench, told Sadler that they were “frankly shocked” that the father-of-two had been driving since 2017 with a provisional driving licence.
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“This is aggravated because your disqualification period started on March 21 and you were caught driving just the next month,” Mrs Klug said. “We can understand the offer of a day’s work is very tempting, but you knew what you were doing when you went into the car, and this is not the first time.
“It’s clear to us that you have no regard for traffic laws or court orders, and you leave us with you no option but to sentence you to 12 weeks in prison however because you are the main carer for your children, we are going to suspend this sentence for 12 months.”
Robert Hanratty, defending Sadler, told the court it was the 35-year-old's second offence for driving while disqualified.
“He very much regrets the appearance in court. He is prone to rash thinking processes.
“He was offered some agency work and wasn’t able to get there. He decided to use his partner’s vehicle rather than lose a day’s work.
“He’s in the last chance saloon, really. It’s his impulsive behaviour not that he has really bad intentions.”
Magistrates ordered Sadler to complete 70 hours of unpaid work, 15 rehabilitation requirement days to work on his consequential thinking and impulsive behaviour and pay the court £279. His licence was also endorsed with eight points, and he remains disqualified from driving until September 2024.
Ms Klug added: “This is really giving you a chance. We’re suspending your sentence because you are the main carer of your children; if you come to court again this cannot be used to lessen your sentence, you can’t use that reason again.
“I think you get an idea that we take a dim view of this; you really should have gone to prison. Like Mr Hanratty said this is your last chance saloon and your chance to work with probation. Please don’t disappoint us.”
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