A man told police he flouted a driving ban because it was "cold, wet, and dark" outside. Martin Cassar was disqualified from driving when he got behind the wheel of his Ford Focus in Gabalfa, Cardiff. The 61-year-old was heading to visit his brother in the University Hospital of Wales, Heath,, which is less than a mile's walk from Cassar's home in Porthkerry Place.
Police patrolling on March 5 noticed the defendant "appeared to panic" as he turned onto North Road and collided with orange traffic cones. Cassar was "remorseful" when stopped by police and made "full and frank admissions" that he was banned from driving, a probation officer told Cardiff Magistrates' Court.
"He stated he had received a phone call informing him one of his brothers had been taken into Heath Hospital for chest problems," the probation officer said. "Due to his brother having ongoing health problems he was concerned about him and the mistake was made on the spur of the moment. As he lives close to the hospital he was asked why he did not walk and he said it was cold, wet, and dark. When asked why he had bought a car when he was banned he said he had bought it six months ago in preparation for the ban to end."
