A MOTORIST who was caught driving while serving a ban for dangerous driving has been jailed for just over eight months.

Ashli Taylor - who has a history of drug and alcohol abuse - was caught after a police officer who knew him spotted him at the wheel of his transit van in the Oldside area of Workington on June 9.

The ban he was serving had been imposed just three months earlier, Carlisle Crown Court was told.

"The defendant also recognised the officer and made an attempt to turn his face away to ensure he wasn't seen," said prosecutor Brendan Burke. But the police officer immediately turned his vehicle around to follow the 32-year-old defendant's van.

He went 'off-road,' driving across a nearby grassed area used as a caravan site, which was parallel to a railway line. The officer followed him and found the van abandoned near to a grassy bank.

Though Taylor tried to conceal himself, he was quickly found and arrested.

The entire incident - from the moment when Taylor was first spotted up to the defendant's arrested - lasted no more than a minute, said Mr Burke.

The barrister outlined the defendant's criminal history.

It comprised 66 previous offences, including numerous thefts, a burglary, aggravated vehicle taking, taking a vehicle without consent, criminal damage, and possessing heroin with intent to supply.

At the time of the latest offence, the court heard, Taylor was under the terms of a suspended six-month jail term for the dangerous driving.

The defendant admitted disqualified driving, failing to surrender for a court hearing, and breaching his suspended sentence order.

Anthony Parkinson, for Taylor, of Needham Drive, Workington, said the defendant suffered significant health problems, including epilepsy.

He had also misused Class A drugs and had been heavily addicted to alcohol.

Following his last court appearance, said Mr Parkinson, Taylor had moved to the North East to make a fresh start.

He and his partner had secured a tenancy a few doors away from the defendant's mother in Bishop Auckland.

Mr Parkinson added: "He has tried to rid himself of drink and drugs and since his trip to the North East he has stayed away from class A drugs and cut down his alcohol use. The defendant also looks a lot better than he did in March."

But Recorder Peter Atherton noted that Taylor failed to turn up for his last scheduled court hearing.

The judge welcomed the news that Taylor was addressing his drug and alcohol issues but said: "When the suspended sentence order was imposed you were told very clearly what the consequences of a breach would be. I have no alternative other than to activate the sentence."

The judge imposed a total of 35 weeks jail and a one year ban, to run from when the defendant is released from custody.