Banned Wisbech driver bought new car two months after being disqualified from driving

A Wisbech motorist who gave false details when caught driving just three months after being banned has received a suspended sentence.

Maksims Vaivads, who had been disqualified in January for 18 months for drink-driving, bought a BMW two months later.

He was stopped while driving it in Henry Street, Wisbech, at 10.45pm on April 17. There were three passengers, magistrates in King’s Lynn were told on Thursday.

Vaivads, 24, gave the name of his front-seat passenger but police checks the following day rumbled him and he was arrested.

He pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified, obstructing a police officer and having no insurance. In mitigation, Ruth Johnson said it had been a “foolish” act by her client.

She added: “His friend had been driving and his friend had then decided to have something to drink. He took the view that it was safer for him to drive.”

Miss Johnson said the car had been bought for his partner but she was “too young to be insured”.

Presiding magistrate John Hare told Vaivads: “You would have been told that if you drive while disqualified you can go to prison. Three months later you get in a car, three months later you lie to police. You must be out of your mind.”

Vaivads, of West Street, was given eight weeks’ custody, suspended for 12 months.

He was disqualified from driving for 30 months. For no insurance he was fined £500 with £128 victim surcharge and £105 costs. There was no separate penalty for the obstructing police matter.