A MAN banned has been band from driving for a third time.

Antony Hanmore, 31, of Breams Field, Langdon Hills, was stopped during a routine police traffic check on the A127 in Rayleigh on January 28.

He immediately told cops he was driving without a licence, having been banned earlier in the year, Southend Magistrates’ Court heard.

Addressing the bench, Hanmore said: “I apologise for being caught again and twice in the same year. I’m trying to get back on a new foot and get back to work.”

Hanmore appeared at court charged with driving the blue Mercedes CLK while five months into his 24-month disqualification.

He was also charged with driving while uninsured.

His solicitor, Adam Merrick, told the court the car belonged to Hanmore’s grandparents.

He said he was doing them a favour by driving it to the garage to be sold because his grandfather had dementia and his grandmother could not drive due to eyesight problems.

Mr Merrick said: “He had his heart in the right place, but his brain wasn’t engaged.”

Hanmore was sentenced to 12 weeks’ imprisonment, suspended for 12 months, and 50 hours’ unpaid work.