A man has ended up in prison for getting behind the wheel of a car less than a year after he was disqualified and spared immediate custody.

Alan Alfred Cozens received a nine-month sentence, suspended for two years, in April 2022 for a bout of dangerous driving which ended when he crashed off a road and into a field.

He was disqualified from driving for 18 months, however, the defendant, who has never had a licence, was shopped behind the wheel in a Bournemouth supermarket car park on December 29, 2022.

Cozens, of Kittiwake Close, Bournemouth, pleaded guilty to using a motor vehicle without insurance and driving while disqualified.

He appeared in the dock at Bournemouth Crown Court to be sentenced for these two offences and breach of the suspended sentence order.

Prosecuting, Hannah Douglas said police received information that there was a man who was believed to be banned from driving at the wheel of a car in the Asda car park in St Paul’s Road, Bournemouth.

When questioned, Cozens was “honest”, the prosecutor said.

Detailing what the defendant told police, Ms Douglas said: “He was the one driving, he didn’t have a licence and never had a licence.”

The defendant said he had the car for about two weeks.

Ms Douglas said he had 26 previous convictions for 46 offences dating back to 2002.

Bournemouth Echo: Bournemouth Crown CourtBournemouth Crown Court

Mitigating, Rob Griffiths said there were no suggestions of bad driving in the incident at Asda.

Mr Griffiths said his client was candid when he was asked why he had the car.

“He bought it so he could take his girlfriend to hospital appointments,” Mr Griffiths said.

The barrister told the court the defendant’s partner was pregnant and she was due to give birth in December.

Mr Griffiths said Cozens criminal record was consistent with “someone who has got a bit of an obsession with motor vehicles”.

Recorder Dow said he had taken the defendant’s progress into account and he implemented the suspended sentence in part.

The judge said: “I cannot find any compelling reason why it would be unjust to activate the (suspended) sentence.”

Recorder Dow sentenced Cozens to six months imprisonment and disqualified him from driving for 13 months and five days, having taken into account the existing ban and the time he will spend behind bars.