A Strabane driver, on his third appearance for driving whilst disqualified and his second for no insurance, was banned from driving at the towns Magistrates Court last week.

The court was told that police on mobile patrol stopped a Ford Ka at Chestnut Park on January 2, and asked the driver, 21 year-old Brian Noel Park, of Springhill Park in Strabane, to produce his documents. They noted that no 'L'-plates were displayed and that there was a female passenger travelling with the defendant.

He only produced a provisional licence, and said that the female passenger was his supervisor, but further investigations revealed that she held a licence from the South and had in fact only been a qualified driver for three months, making her ineligible to supervise the defendant.

A solicitor explained that the defendant had completed his theory driving test, but had failed his practical test three times. She added that her client believed his passenger was qualified to supervise him, and that in the South she would have been. She added that the L-plates he had purchased were in another vehicle.

The RM stressed that this was the defendant's third appearance for driving without supervision, and his second conviction for driving without insurance. He was disqualified from driving for six months, fined £250 for having no insurance, £100 for failing to display 'L'-plates, and £100 for driving without supervision.