A BANNED driver tried to escape police when he was caught behind the wheel on a Herefordshire main road.

Karl Antony Williams pleaded guilty to six charges when he appeared before magistrates in Hereford.

The court heard Williams had driven a blue Ford Fiesta without due care and attention, while disqualified, and without insurance on the A49 at Hope Under Dinmore on April 11, before failing to stop for police.

When officers caught the 32-year-old, he was found to be carrying a quantity of class B drug cannabis and failed to provide a blood sample when requested by police.

Magistrates said the offence was serious as Williams was driving while disqualified and impaired, attempted to evade police, and refused to give a sample for analysis and such behaviour cannot be tolerated.

Williams, of Clos Ger y Nant, Caldicot, Gwent, was handed a 12-week prison sentence suspended for 18 months and a 10-week curfew with electronic tag, and was disqualified from driving for four years.