A Bath man who has previously been banned from driving three times under the ‘totting up’ rules has now been disqualified for 36 months by magistrates who told him his record was “very, very poor”.
A totting up ban occurs when a driver accumulates 12 or more penalty points on their licence within three years.
Naseer Muhammad, of Elliston Drive, appeared in custody at Bath Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday 5th November as he had failed to attend a court hearing in August and a warrant without bail had been issued.
The 45-year-old admitted he had ridden a moped whilst disqualified and without insurance.
A charge of not having a MoT certificate was withdrawn by the Crown Prosecution Service after the magistrates pointed out that the moped did not need one as it was under three years old.
A further charge of not having a driving licence was also withdrawn.
The court heard that Muhammad had been stopped in New Street in Bath on 21st February during a routine police check after going out to buy some food. There had been no indication of poor driving.
The totting up ban which he breached has since elapsed, and he had a clean licence when he came before the court last week.
Representing Muhammad, solicitor Bradley Axam said the defendant was hoping to get back into employment soon and asked magistrates to keep the inevitable driving ban as low as possible.
But magistrates said Muhammad’s driving record was “very, very poor” and went outside their sentencing guidelines to issue a far more serious ban of 36 months.
They also fined him £200 for the offence and a further £120 fine for having no insurance.
He was also ordered to pay a £128 surcharge and £85 costs.
