A DISQUALIFIED driver caught behind the wheel in Dalmuir has been slammed for his disregard for a court-imposed ban – and for other road-users.

Richard Smith was caught when police stopped the vehicle he was driving on Dumbarton Road on October 16 to carry out a routine document check.

A court heard that Smith immediately told the officers: “Guys, I’m banned.”

The 41-year-old appeared at Dumbarton Sheriff Court on Friday for sentencing after pleading guilty to driving while disqualified and without insurance.

Fiscal depute Kara Watt said: “A check of the police national computer found that the accused was banned from driving until March 21, 2019, and highlighted the absence of insurance to drive the vehicle.

“Officers say the accused’s partner was in the vehicle and that his partner was unaware he was disqualified.”

Sentence had been deferred until Friday’s hearing to allow social workers to prepare a background report on Smith.

Douglas Thomson, defending, said: “He was asked by his partner to transport her to her work that morning.

“He chose not to disclose the ban to her, which was an act of utter folly by him. The result of this was that he spent nine days in custody and, as a result of that, he lost his job.

“If he was in any doubt before he drove the vehicle what the consequences might be, he was in absolutely no doubt when he came out of Low Moss [prison].”

Sheriff William Gallacher replied: “I find it virtually impossible to conclude that he has not done this routinely, but I am only dealing with this single charge before me.

“In order to protect the community, one option before the courts is to disqualify people. Mr Smith, it appears, thinks that does not apply to him.”

Mr Thomson said: “He is fully aware that the court is considering custody. The question is, is that going to assist the public in the long term?

“The court can lock him up for a few weeks. But the court can also make him spend some of his time giving something back.”

Turning to address Smith directly, the sheriff said:“I think you just didn’t think the consequences of being disqualified applied to you.

“If you had any other convictions for driving while disqualified, I would have sent you to jail.”

Instead, Smith, of Rossendale Court, Pollokshaws, Glasgow, was ordered to carry out 160 hours of unpaid work and banned from driving for 20 months on each charge.

The sheriff added: “Do it again, you’ll go to prison.”