A man caught behind the wheel in “blatant” breach of a suspended sentence for dangerous driving has been jailed for eight months.

Locking up Mark Durkin, Judge Jonathan Rose warned: “A custodial sentence is what comes to those who deliberately commit offences during the period of a suspended sentence.”

Durkin, 25, of Delverne Grove, Eccleshill, Bradford, pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified and without insurance in breach of the eight month order imposed on September 27, 2019, for dangerous driving.

Bradford Crown Court heard today that he was spotted driving on Moorside Road in Fagley, Bradford, shortly after midday on December 14 last year while banned from driving until he took an extended retest.

Durkin’s barrister, Shufqat Khan, said he had just started employment with an engineering firm. He had almost completed the unpaid work order attached to the suspended sentence and he had made big changes to his life since his conviction for dangerous driving.

But Judge Rose said it was a “blatant” disregard of the court order.

Durkin was banned from driving for 16 months.