A banned driver who was caught behind the wheel on the motorway has never held a licence or passed his test, a court heard.

Anthonie Denham was spotted by officers driving along the M20 near Hythe when they did a check on his vehicle to see if it had any insurance.

When checks came back that the Ford Focus was not insured, they pulled up alongside him and indicated to him he needed to follow them to an area where it was safe to stop.

The 33-year-old complied and followed the police vehicle and when officers spoke him it was discovered he was also banned from the road and has only ever held a provisional licence.

Denham, of High Street, Dover, was charged with driving while disqualified and without insurance and admitted both offences when he appeared at Folkestone Magistrates' Court on January 25.

The court heard Denham had been banned from driving in July 2019 for 41 months and was caught behind the wheel in July 2022.

Dylan Bradshaw prosecuting said: "He co-operated throughout and he was on his own in the vehicle.

"There were no L plates on the car and he had a provisional licence."

District Judge Justin Barron also heard Denham had previous convictions and had been jailed before for committing other offences.

The court was also told Denham had recently got himself a job with Biffa, a waste management firm and had been driving to get to his new job which was eight miles away from his home.

The court heard he had driven towards the end of his current ban and would have to apply to the DVLA and do an extended test to be able to drive again, which the judge heard Denham was keen to do.

Judge Barron said: "Your driving record is so bad. Get back on the road, but do it legally."

'Your driving record is so bad. Get back on the road, but do it legally'

The judge also said the offence did pass the custody threshold because of his previous convictions, but was prepared to suspended the sentence.

Denham was given a 12-week suspended sentence for 18 months and was ordered to carry out 120 hours of unpaid work.

He also had eight points endorsed on his licence and was ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £154 and £85 costs.