A disqualified driver who suffers seizures and has “grip problems” got back behind the wheel a month after being banned.

Magistrates told diabetic Ian Giles, from Ramsgate, that the consequences could have been “horrendous” - but he was spared jail.

The 60-year-old found himself in the dock after being caught driving a Ford Transit van while banned on December 13 last year.

Magistrates heard he had appeared in court several times for similar crimes.

After being pulled over in December, Giles of Chilton Lane, was charged with three offences: driving while disqualified, driving without insurance and driving without an MOT.

He pleaded guilty to all three charges when he appeared in court in August.

At the time, sentencing was adjourned and a pre-sentencing report was ordered. He returned to Margate Magistrates’ Court to be sentenced on November 13.

Julie Farbrace, prosecuting, said: “It was about 3.50pm and police saw the Transit van being driven in Canterbury Road East in Ramsgate and it flagged up there was no insurance for it.

“The officers stopped him and he admitted there was no insurance for the vehicle. Further checks revealed he was disqualified from driving and there was no MOT.

“In November last year, he was in breach of a community order he’d been given for driving while disqualified and on October 16, 2023, he was disqualified for 12 months.

“There was a further incident of driving while disqualified in 2021 and there is today’s conviction - it’s similar.

“There have been multiple times he’s appeared in court for similar offences.

“He was disqualified on October 16 last year and was then caught driving just over a month later on December 13. It’s a contributing factor to harm, but there was no bad driving.”

Jack Stewart, defending, told the court his client had some health issues.

He added: “He has a manky big toe and it was looking like it had to be amputated. However, it’s been saved.

“He accepts [him driving] was wrong, and he has an unattractive record. He’s not driven since.”

Mr Stewart said Giles is waiting for an appointment for his heart as he needs a stent put in.

“The consequences could have been horrendous...”

The lawyer added: “He’s disabled and is claiming PIP [Personal Independent Payment], also has grip problems and can’t lay his hands flat and he’s been having seizures - about three a month.

“It looks like his licence is probably going to be taken away from him [because of the seizure issues].

“He was driving about five weeks after he got a ban and it does pass the custody threshold.

“But he would not cope in a custodial setting and would not be able to access care like he can in the community.

“A suspended sentence could be given. You’ve got to trust him this time around not to be stupid.

“His [current] ban is now over, but he is in breach of a conditional discharge [by driving].”

The chairman of the bench told Giles he had a lack of respect for the courts.

He said: “I will say firstly you have been caught [driving while disqualified] so many times and you have a lack of respect for court orders and driving while you know you could have a seizure - the consequences could have been horrendous.”

The bench jailed Giles for the driving while disqualified offence for four months but suspended the term for 12 months. The chair said he was only spared prison because of his ongoing health issues.

He was also banned from driving for a further three years and was ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £154 as well as £85 court costs.

Giles received no separate penalty for the other two offences but his licence would be endorsed.

Magistrates also jailed him for four months for breaching the conditional discharge - but also suspended that term by 12 months and said that sentence would run concurrently along with the other.