A MIDDLEWICH man charged with driving while disqualified has told a court he had no idea he was banned from the road.

Jake Shannon, of Wheelock Street, was driving his BMW on Wharton Road in Winsford when he was stopped by police on July 18.

When the 31-year-old ex-serviceman was told by officers he was driving whilst disqualified he explained to them that he knew nothing about the ban.

Shannon was appearing at Chester Magistrates Court on Friday, August 5, where he pleaded guilty to charges of driving while disqualified and driving without insurance.

He was represented by Michael Gray who explained the unique situation to the court.

“He lives in a flat at the back of a shop and he has shown me a letter from the hairdresser’s business that occupies the front of the building to confirm long-standing issues at the building with mail going missing,” he said.

“This is an issue that has been going on for a long period.

“He genuinely had no idea he had been disqualified from driving.

“It seems to me that my client may well qualify for a special reasons hearing.”

The court confirmed Shannon had been disqualified from driving on May 30 at Warrington Magistrates Court. The six-month ban came about due to a totting up procedure, and he had not been present at the hearing.

“My client accepts the court’s reasons that he is disqualified,” Mr Gray added.

“He is an ex-military serviceman and has no intention of breaking the law deliberately.”

Magistrates agreed to a special reasons hearing, which will take place at the same court on September 5.