A BANNED driver who was caught behind the wheel of a car in Bradford despite having 35 points on an expired provisional licence has been accused of "making a mockery" of road laws.

West Yorkshire Police officers stopped a red Daihatsu in Leaventhorpe Lane, Thornton, to find the driver was disqualified and had no insurance.

The car, which also did not have a valid MOT, was described by police as being in a “poor state of repair”.

Zariaat Masood, spokesman for road safety charity Brake, said: “This driver with 35 points on a provisional licence should be taken off the road, before he takes someone else off the road.

“It is appalling that almost 10,000 drivers are able to get behind the wheel despite showing a blatant disregard for the safety of other road users.

“This makes a mockery of our penalty points system that exists to protect the public from selfish and dangerous repeat offenders.

Brake is calling on the Government to ensure all drivers with more than 12 points get an automatic ban.”

Naz Shah, MP for the Bradford West constituency where the car was stopped, said the incident highlighted the need for tougher penalties for dangerous drivers.

“It is absolutely ridiculous - I want to understand it. It beggars belief," said Ms Shah.

“It is disgusting. There is no room for drivers like that on our streets - they should not be out there.

“They are not fit for the road.”

She added: “I think it is very irresponsible, selfish and extremely dangerous.”

Road safety campaigner Amjad Malik, whose 15-year-old son Saliq died in a car crash in Gilpin Street, Barkerend, Bradford, in September, 2014, also called for tougher sentences.

He said: “He is already banned and has got no insurance. Drivers like that should be facing a prison sentence.

“The dangers are there. Any little thing and they could be putting someone’s life in jeopardy."

He added: “From my point of view, with 35 points he should not be on the road at all.

“The sentences need to be tougher because these drivers have got no regard for the public out there. They think the law is in their hands.

“There is no fear, nothing.”

Police officers from the Bradford East Neighbourhood Policing Team stopped the car last Saturday at about 9.45pm.

The driver, a 33-year-old Wakefield man, was already disqualified from driving until May this year, said a police spokesman.

The man was reported for driving while disqualified and the vehicle was seized.

Last month, the Telegraph & Argus reported that a West Yorkshire man had clocked up 62 points on his licence was still allowed to drive.

He was among almost 10,000 motorists legally driving on British roads last month, despite having excessive points.

Usually 12 points means a ban, but magistrates can choose not to enforce it in “exceptional cases”.