Plans to hoover a car in preparation for a prospective purchaser led to a Milford Haven man being in court as his partner was about to give birth.

Ian Evans, of James Street, pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified and without third party insurance when he appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates on Tuesday, June 5.

Abul Hussain, prosecuting, told the court that Evans, 29, immediately told officers that he did not have a licence when they spotted him driving a Volvo on the road near his home on May 19.

Mr Hussain added that Evans had previously been handed a suspended prison sentence and banned for 36 months after being convicted of drink-driving in 2015.

Mark Layton, defending, told the bench that the vehicle was being used by Evans’ partner, and was owned by her father, but was in the process of being sold and replaced with a larger car.

“A person had agreed to view the vehicle and they wanted to clean it before the prospective buyer came.”

Garage worker Evans drove the car less than 100 metres to turn it around and manoeuvre it onto a steep grass verge, so that it could be hoovered next to his house.

Mr Layton added: “It was a momentary lapse of concentration or thought. He did not give consideration to driving the vehicle that short distance.”

Mr Layton added that Evans had completed 121 hours of his unpaid work requirement, and his partner’s due-date for the birth of their child was the day of the court hearing.

“He made a foolish error of judgement in driving a very short distance.”

Magistrates extended the suspended sentence for 12 months and imposed a 12 month community order with 200 hours of extra unpaid work.

He was banned from driving for three years, and ordered to pay £85 court costs and an £85 surcharge.