A man will be spending Christmas in prison after he was caught driving whilst disqualified in Colchester.

Nicholas Buckle, aged 45, a builder from Colne Chase in Witham, was stopped by roads policing Pc Paul Hills in Harwich Road, Colchester on November 16 at 9.30am.

Pc Hills had noticed that Buckle’s white Peugeot Partner van had a defective exhaust.

After checking the driver’s details Pc Hills, who is part of the Casualty Reduction Section’s motorcycle team, discovered Buckle had been banned from driving just a week before.

He had been convicted of drink driving following at hearing at Bury St Edmunds Magistrate’s Court on November 9. Buckle also had no insurance.

He arrested the man and charged him later that day with driving whilst disqualified and using a motor vehicle on the road without insurance.

Buckle appeared at Colchester Magistrates Court on December 1 where he was given a 17 week custodial sentence and banned from driving for 83 months.

Pc Hills said: “Hopefully some time in prison will give Mr Buckle sometime to reflect on his actions.

“Drink driving will not be tolerated and to then flout the law by driving whilst disqualified and without insurance not only puts law abiding road users at risk, but the offender too.”

He added: “Essex Police will always take a proactive approach to reducing the number of casualties on our roads. We take the strongest actions possible to ensure offenders of road traffic offences are brought to justice.”

Anyone who suspects a drink driver or someone that is driving whilst disqualified is asked to contact Essex Police on 101 with any details.