A Suffolk motorist with 15 convictions for driving while disqualified has lost his appeal against a five-year driving ban after a judge accused him of “blatantly” ignoring court orders.

Joe Taylor was stopped by police in Newmarket in September after he jumped a red traffic light and a check revealed he was a disqualified driver, Ipswich Crown Court heard.

Taylor, 30, of Churchill Court, Newmarket, admitted driving while disqualified and was given a five-year ban by magistrates.

Dismissing his appeal against the length of the ban Recorder Rex Bryan, who was sitting with two magistrates, said Taylor had “blatantly” ignored court orders over a number of years.

“This defendant must understand that court orders are there to be obeyed and if they are not you get into the sort of trouble he finds himself in,” he said.

Daniel Taylor, representing Taylor, said his client was a painter, decorator and plasterer and had been driving to work when he was stopped by police and found to be a banned driver.

He said Taylor had been five to six weeks away from the end of an earlier ban when he committed the latest offence.