A 54-year-old man from Guisborough has been given an 18-month driving ban after police caught him behind the wheel in a supermarket car park just minutes after leaving a court hearing in Durham, County Durham. Richard Brooks was spotted by officers as he attempted to drive home on February 9, 2026, following a previous disqualification issued that same day.
Brooks had originally appeared at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates’ Court to face charges for using a mobile phone while driving in Barnard Castle last year. The court initially handed him a six-month driving ban, which was set to start immediately after the hearing ended.
According to Durham Constabulary, traffic officers saw Brooks get into a silver car at a nearby Tesco car park shortly after he left the building. When the driver noticed a marked police vehicle, he tried to turn around and head back into the car park, but officers intercepted and arrested him on the spot.
During a follow-up hearing on February 11, 2026, Brooks was charged with driving while disqualified and using a vehicle without insurance. He was given a suspended prison sentence and his driving ban was extended to a total of 18 months.
Sergeant Chris Milburn of the roads policing unit said that a driving ban starts the moment it is issued in court. He added that anyone who chooses to get into a car and drive home after being disqualified is likely to be stopped and will face much harsher punishments.
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