Bristol Man Banned For Seventh Time Over Driving Offences

Tuesday, February 9th 2010 14:15

A Bristol man already banned from driving six times has escaped jail over a new offence.

38 year old Wayne Atkinson was disqualified for a range of offences ranging back to 1993 including drink driving, dangerous driving and driving without due care and attention.

At Bristol Crown Court, Judge Carol Hagen gave Atkinson 'one last chance' when he pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, driving while disqualified and having no insurance.

The court heard alcoholic Atkinson was caught after he sped through a 30mph zone doing 70mph on the wrong side of the road and ran a red light whilst ''popping to the shops''.

Judge Hagen gave Atkinson, from Brislington, a one year suspended prison sentence, disqualified him from driving for two years, imposed a 7pm to 7am curfew, a one-year supervision order and ordered him attend a course for alcohol abuse.

Sentencing Atkinson she said: ''This is the behaviour of an 18-year-old, not a 38-year-old. You have an appalling record. I'm going to take a chance. This is your last opportunity.''