A man who was banned from driving then drove away from court moments later has avoided jail.

John Boyce was disqualified for 12 months in April after being convicted of driving without due care.

The 54-year-old left the hearing, at Sevenoaks Magistrates' Court, entered his Volvo which was parked outside and drove some 10 miles to his home.

Boyce, of Cudham Lane North in Sevenoaks, was followed by police parked outside the court and stopped near his home.

He appeared at Sevenoaks Magistrates Court on Wednesday charged with using a vehicle without insurance and driving whilst disqualified.

Wearing a grey suit the retired BT employee spoke only to confirm his name, address and guilty plea.

Brian Ferris, defending, said his client was in a state of shock after leaving the initial hearing in April having been handed a driving ban which could not be lifted until an extended test had been taken.

He added: "Mr Boyce had a clean driving licence for 40 years. He was unrepresented for the careless driving case. My client represented himself very badly.

"He came out of court in a state of shock. He thought he would be acquitted. I wasn't there for the case but he said the careless driving incident involved cyclists who attacked him.

"This is not someone putting two fingers up at the law. This was a one off. He decided to take a chance driving back and wanted to get the car home" - Brian Ferris

"He believed he was innocent so he was bitter about that and that is what he was concentrating on.

"He got into his car and drove home. This is not someone putting two fingers up at the law. This was a one off. He decided to take a chance driving back and wanted to get the car home."

Mr Ferris said a custodial sentence would not be appropriate for Boyce as he suffered from a heart condition which led him to retire early.

Chairman of the bench, Martin Beck, said: "I don't think I have ever heard of a more obvious dis regard of the courts orders.

"We feel the offence is so serious it warrants a custodial sentence, which we are going to suspend."

Boyce, who pleaded guilty to the offence, was handed a 60 day prison sentence, suspended for 12 months. He has also been placed on a day-time curfew not to leave his home between the hours of 6am and 6pm on weekdays for three months.

He must pay £80 victim surcharge, £85 costs, £150 criminal courts charge and was banned from driving for 12 months.