A man caught behind the wheel of a car in Luton that was bearing false number plates has narrowly escaped going to prison.
Police stopped Christopher Connolly in Marsh Road in Luton in the early hours of August 15 last year. After carrying out checks on the car the officers realised its registration number was phoney.
That was confirmed when inside the car they found the real number plate. Connolly then admitted the car was uninsured and he was a disqualified driver.
The story was revealed at Luton crown court on Tuesday, June 9, when 36-year-old Connolly appeared at court to admit driving with false number plates and driving uninsured and with no licence.
After being taken into custody Connolly told the officers he had bought the vehicle months before to live in after being made homeless. Connolly said when the police had stopped him he had been on his way to a location in Luton where as a homeless person he could obtain food and shelter.
He said he had been advised that night by a friend to fit false plates so as not to attract attention to himself because he was a disqualified driver In fact, the court heard, after being made homeless back in 2017, and acquiring the car to sleep in, Connolly had repeatedly been arrested for driving it and banned as a result On a number of occasions he had then ignored his disqualifications and driven.
Connolly’s barrister Andrew Smith told the court his client of York Close, Barton-le-Clay had on going mental health problems, but in the last few months had moved into settled accommodation. The meant, said Mr Smith his client had been able to register once more with a GP and had made contact with mental health services again.
Passing sentence Judge Mark Bishop said he was going to suspend any court case to give Connolly the chance of getting the help he needs to tackle his problems. The judge gave him a 16 week jail sentence which was suspended for 18 months.
For the next three months Connolly will be subject to an electronically monitored home curfew when he will have to be in doors between 6pm and 6am.
He must also attend a Thinking Skills Programme and complete a 25 day Rehabilitation Activity Requirement The judge told Connolly he will be banned from driving for the next two years and will have to take an extended driving test before he can get behind the wheel of a car again.
His licence was also endorsed. “It’s completely irresponsible to keep driving having been disqualified by the courts on three previous occasions,” said the judge. He went on “I hope you will recognise how close you have come to going to prison.”
