A BANNED driver was caught behind the wheel in Hereford after deciding to drive because he felt depressed.

Kelvyn Tinton admitted driving while disqualified and without insurance, and breaching the requirements of his post-custodial supervision when he appeared before magistrates in Hereford.

The 23-year-old had been seen behind the wheel of an Audi A3 in Hereford's Canonmoor Street by police on May 3.

Tinton, who has previous convictions for motoring offences including failure to provide a sample, driving while disqualified, and driving without insurance, was stopped and admitted he had no insurance or licence, while checks revealed he is disqualified until May 19, 2023.

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Emma Thorne, for Tinton, said there were a number of issues that needed to be taken into account.

"He tells me he decided to drive because he was feeling low and depressed and it was a form of escapism," Mrs Thorne said.

"He was stopped within 30 seconds.

"The breach of post-sentence supervision requirements concerns his failure to attend appointments on two occasions after being released from prison, and the recommendation is for a fine as it was his first breach. His officer tells me he has largely engaged with supervision."

The court heard Tinton, who has mental health issues, had been jailed for breaching a suspended sentence.

"He is painfully shy and has been struggling for a number of years, and has just disengaged with everything in recent months, including the job centre and probation. He has no qualifications and his medications were stopped some years ago, but he is now receiving help and is back on medication. We are on the edge of him turning things around and I would like for him to stay on that road."

Mrs Thorne said Tinton currently does not have an income as his benefits have been sanctioned due to his failure to attend appointments.

"He has a lack of purpose and realises unpaid work is not there to give him purpose but instead to punish him, but he feels it would help set him on the right road," Mrs Thorne said.

Tinton, of Springfield Avenue, Hereford, was handed a 12-month community order with 70 hours unpaid work and fined £50. He was disqualified from driving for 18 months and must pay a £95 victim surcharge.