Banned Hartlepool driver jailed after telling court 'I won't do community service'

A banned driver caught behind the wheel has been locked up after telling justices he would rather go to prison than do community work.
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Sean McKenna, 52, was arrested after pulling out in front of a police vehicle in Hartlepool.

Officers also found a lock knife on the floor of the uninsured Vauxhall Corsa.

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McKenna was charged with driving without care and attention, driving while disqualified, having no insurance and possession of the blade.

The case was heard in Middlesbrough at Teesside Magistrates' Court.The case was heard in Middlesbrough at Teesside Magistrates' Court.
The case was heard in Middlesbrough at Teesside Magistrates' Court.

Magistrates jailed him for six months after being told he was not prepared to do unpaid work as a punishment.

Prosecutor Marc Atkins said McKenna caused another vehicle to have to take evasive action to avoid a crash after pulling out directly in front of it in Raby Road on April 10.

Mr Atkins said: “Unfortunately for the defendant that vehicle happened to be a police vehicle which then followed the defendant and stopped him nearby on Tees Street.

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"They then spoke with the defendant and checks on the police national computer confirmed the defendant first of all wasn’t insured to drive the car and he was a disqualified driver.”

The lock knife was recovered from the floor of the car behind the driver’s seat.

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McKenna, of Brougham Terrace, pleaded guilty to driving without due care and attention, having no insurance, driving whilst disqualified and possession of a knife in public.

Andrew Teate, defending, said to the magistrates bench: “He makes it plain to you through me he will not be undertaking any unpaid work and if that necessitates the inevitable alternative, so be it.

"He goes into that with his eyes wide open.”

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He said McKenna was only prepared to abide by a tagged home curfew or to complete some probation rehabilitation activity days.

Mr Teate said there was no suggestion McKenna tried to use the knife.

Chairman of the bench Martin Slimings said: “We’ve heard what you say you are going to do and what you’re not going to do today.”

Mr Slimings said it was clear McKenna would not co-operate with the probation service as part of a community order or suspended sentence and would end up back in court.

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Jailing him, Mr Slimings said: “So we’re circumventing all that.”

McKenna was banned from driving for 21 months and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £128 surcharge.

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