A BANNED driver has been given a suspended prison sentence after he was caught behind the wheel during a "moment of madness".

Lyndon John Bond, 48, of Cottage 15, Penrallt Hotel, Aberporth, pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified and without third party insurance, when he appeared before Aberystwyth magistrates.

The court heard that police spotted Bond driving a van on the A487 at at Penparc on April 26, and found that the vehicle was registered to a female, who was the only person insured to drive it.

Helen Tench, prosecuting, said: “The defendant admitted the offence in the vehicle, saying it was registered to his mother who did not know he was disqualified.”

Bond was subject to a five-year driving ban at the time.

Alan Lewis, defending, said Bond acted as carer for a friend with mobility issues.

He said: “He knows he shouldn’t have driven, it was a moment of madness.

“He is genuinely remorseful and accepts it was a stupid thing to do.”

The court heard that Bond was fitting grab handles in his friend’s shower room and drove to B&Q to get supplies.

Mr Lewis told the court his client had anxiety, depression and alcohol issues.

He said: “Clearly my client needs to address certain issues in his life, and he has made a start on this himself.

“He is caring for a friend, doing something positive, not sitting around, and he has his own demons to deal with.”

He added: “A relatively short distance was driving and there was no evidence of bad driving.”

“He has made a very serious error which he regrets, a year and a half after getting a driving ban.”

After considering a probation report, magistrates sentenced Bond to 12 weeks in custody, suspended for 18 months, and disqualified him from driving for 12 months.

An 18-month community order was imposed with 35 rehabilitation activity requirement days, and Bond was ordered to pay £200 in court costs and charges.

There was no separate penalty for driving without insurance, but his licence was endorsed.

The presiding magistrate said: “There is no need for me to tell you how serious this is, but we do see a sense of hope in your life and we wish you well.”