A BANNED driver stopped by police at Capel Bangor “panicked” when he gave a friend’s name to try to avoid being arrested, magistrates have heard.

Steven Wain, 39, was caught out when police checked the name he had given - Michael Linton - and found that Wain did not have the tattoos that Mr Linton had on his arm.

Travelling salesman Wain, who admitted driving while disqualified, driving without insurance and obstructing a police officer, was stopped shortly after 10pm on 17 May, on the A44 at Capel Bangor.

Prosecutor, Tracey Willingham said Wain told officers that he didn’t have any documentation so was asked his name and details so police could make checks on the national database.

When Wain realised that he had been caught out by giving the false name, he admitted who he was and said he had been banned from driving in February 2016.

In an interview, he told officers he had panicked. Ms Willingham said Wain, of 97 Colby Road, Burry Port in Llanelli, told police that he had not told his employers that he had been banned from driving, with Ms Willingham saying that it seemed that he had continued to drive despite being banned.

Defence solicitor Andrew Markham said Wain had told his employers about his driving ban and, because of his importance to the company, they had hired him a driver.

However, on that day Wain’s driver had decided he wanted to go home and left the car with the keys in the ignition.

Mr Markham said Wain had waited for around an hour before deciding to drive home, a decision he now realised was “foolish”.

Wain was given a 12-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months. He was also banned from driving for 14 months, extending the spell of the initial ban, and will have to complete 150 hours of unpaid work. Wain will also pay costs of £200.