Magistrates accused a man of “sticking two fingers up” at society after flouting his driving ban.

Simon Roberts, 28, admitted using his vehicle whilst disqualified and without insurance on July 9.

At the time he was subject to an interim ban following a conviction for failing to provide a breath sample to police.

Alex Bozman, prosecuting, said that an officer recognised Roberts as he returned to his Subaru Impreza at Tesco in Bradford Road, Batley.

As Roberts drove off he made further checks which showed that he was a disqualified driver.

When the car was stopped by another officer, Roberts had switched sides to the passenger seat.

Just weeks previously on June 18 he was given the temporary ban by magistrates.

Paul Blanchard, mitigating, said that his client wrongly believed that the ban would start after his sentencing.

He added that Roberts, of Burnup Grove in Cleckheaton, could have denied being the driver as CCTV equipment at the store was poor.

Magistrates criticised him for getting behind the wheel.

They told him: “You seem to be sticking two fingers up at the court and society in general.

“You knew that you were disqualified.”

They gave Roberts a community order with 240 hours of unpaid work as a direct alternative to prison.

They also banned him from the road for a further 18 months and told him to pay �85 costs and �60 victim surcharge.