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Banned but behind the wheel for 12th time
A MAN has avoided jail after admitting to his 12th offence of driving whilst disqualified in three years.
Edward Humberston, 24, was caught driving a Mitsubishi Pajero car and admitted to being a banned driver after a police officer recognised him behind the wheel.
Magistrates branded him a "danger to the public and other road users" after hearing he has 11 offences on his record for driving whilst disqualified since 2007.
These resulted in a ban for three years in February 2008, disqualification for 20 months in November that year, a ban for two years in April last year and a ban for five months in September last year.
Humberston, of Brancepath Chare, Peterlee, admitted driving whilst disqualified and driving without insurance on January 18.
He also admitted three counts of burglary after breaking into halls of residence at Durham University on December 26 last year and stealing a 40-inch JVC television, vodka, a hat and scarf and cuff links.
Susan Pringle, chairman of the magistrates' bench at Peterlee Magistrates' Court, sentenced Humberston to 22 weeks in prison, suspended for 18 months, an 18-month supervision order with alcohol treatment, and an electronically monitored three-month curfew from 7pm until 7am,
Humberston was also given eight penalty points on his driving licence.
Mrs Pringle told Humberston: "You are a danger to the public and other road users while driving whilst disqualified.
"That's a very serious offence and you have 11 previous offences of that."
Prosecutor Nicci Horton said Humberston was spotted by a police officer driving on Durham Way, Peterlee, and turning into Brancepath Chare, before he was stopped and spoken to.
She added that in a separate offence, Humberston, along with another man, broke into the Cruddas and Linton buildings of the university's St John's college following a night out on Boxing Day.
She said: "Security at the college were alerted as they saw fresh footprints in the snow. They thought this was odd, given everyone had gone home for Christmas."
Ian Jordan, mitigating, said there had been no dangerous driving on the day. Humberston has "problems making rational decisions" and "poor thinking skills" but was hoping to turn his life around.
He said Humberston had ran out of cash to get home from a night out and broke into the college to "find shelter" and his initial intention was to sleep there.
Longstaff received a 12-month community order for two counts of burglary at an earlier hearing.
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Monday 13 February 2012
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