A MAN who repeatedly ignored a driving ban has been spared jail.

Bolton magistrates heard how Craig Sloane had previously been caught drink driving and punished twice for driving whilst banned but still continued to get behind the wheel.

Sloane, aged 30, of Skelwith Avenue, Great Lever, pleaded guilty to driving whilst disqualified on the M55 at Kirkham and having no insurance on June 2 and again in Blackpool on October 23 when he also obstructed a police officer. He also admitted possessing heroin on April 8.

Ann Deakin, prosecuting, told how Sloane was seen by another motorist driving a Citroen on the M55 and became concerned when the vehicle overtook him.

“The witness said that he saw the defendant drinking from a can of Strongbow cider and was concerned that he was drink driving,” said Miss Deakin, who added that the motorist followed Sloane’s car as it left the motorway at junction three and entered a car park at the Fairfield Hotel.

He blocked the Citroen in and confronted Sloane, who walked off but was caught by police a short time later.

A breath test proved negative for alcohol but Sloane admitted he was banned from driving and had no insurance.

Sloane was caught driving again in an Audi in Blackpool town centre last October.

Darin Millar, defending, said Sloane has not coped well with a family bereavement and his mother’s ill health and “patently has thinking deficits” in relation to driving.

Sloane was given a 20-week suspended prison sentence and must observe an eight-week curfew. He was also banned from driving for two years.