A banned driver was caught driving while disqualified - just a week after he was released from prison for the same offence.

Sharam Salimi had just got out of prison after serving a 16-week jail term for driving whilst disqualified when he was stopped by police again.

Despite having only been freed seven days earlier for breaking his driving ban, he was arrested on Canvey whle driving a Seat Leon.

Salimi, who lives in Kingsmere, Benfleet, was held by police when the car activated a camera on the island on Wednesday, January 20.

Officers on motorbikes rode to the island and stopped Salimi on Charfleets Service Road, Canvey, just after 3.15pm.

When officers checked the database, they discovered he was disqualified and charged him with the offence.

After being remanded in custody, Salimi, 22, appeared before magistrates in Southend on Thursday, January 21.

He admitted the charge and he was disqualified from driving for a further 34 months and jailed for 18 weeks.

Salimi was arrested during Operation Nash, an road safety initiative led by officers from Essex Police’s casualty reduction unit to reduce motoring offences.

Offenders were identified by cameras and officers patrolling in cars, before being escorted to check sites at Waterside Farm Sports Centre, in Somnes Avenue, and the Knightswick Centre.

During the operation, 79 people were spotted not wearing a seatbelt and 18 were dealt with for using a mobile phone whilst behind the wheel.

Officers also found 14 vehicles without valid MOT certificates and three drivers without suitable insurance. Two vehicles were seized as a result.

Three cars were found to have illegal tints on the windows and two people were discovered to be driving otherwise than in accordance with their licence.