A Milford man was sent to jail this week after admitting driving whilst he was disqualified.

Twenty-four-year-old Zack Ginnelly, of Howarth Close, pleaded guilty to a charge of driving a Vauxhall Corsa on Waterloo Road in Pembroke Dock on June 11 while disqualified, when he appeared at Haverfordwest Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

The defendant also admitted a charge of using a motor vehicle in a public place without third party insurance.

Prosecutor Dennis Davies told the court that the matter occurred at around 6.40 pm on a Sunday, when police officers on duty were given cause to stop the vehicle that Mr. Ginnery was driving.

“Mr. Ginnery got out of the vehicle and ran away, but he was identified by officers,” said Mr. Davies.

On investigation, officers discovered that Mr. Ginnery had been disqualified from driving for two years last year.

On June 19, police located Mr. Ginerry at an address and spoke to him. He told officers that he had run away because he was ‘scared of the police’ and accepted that he was banned from driving.

Mr. Davies told magistrates that the defendant had been before the court twice previously for similar matters.

Defence solicitor Jonathan Webb told the court that Mr. Ginerry was living in London, but had come back to Pembrokeshire to visit his young children from a previous relationship.

“He was playing football in the park and one of his friends fell over and badly injured his ankle and couldn’t drive. Mr. Ginerry simply drove down to his mum’s to assist his friend.

“There was no significant distance driven and no suggestion of bad driving,” explained Mr. Webb.

The court heard that Mr. Ginnery was subject to post sentence supervision licence, made in Peterborough following a custodial sentence.

Magistrates were also told that it was the defendant’s third charge of driving whilst disqualified in a short period of time.

Magistrates gave Mr. Ginnery an immediate custodial sentence of 12 weeks, and disqualified the defendant from driving for a further three years.

For the charge of having no insurance, he was given eight penalty points; and was also ordered to pay prosecution costs of £85 and a £115 victim surcharge.