Andrew Croft, 39, was spotted by police at the wheel of a Kia Rio on the A690 in Durham city centre, on November 6, last year.
The police officer followed and caused Croft to come to a stop at the top of North Road.
Durham Crown Court was told the defendant explained he was using the car to travel to and from work.
(Image: Durham Constabulary) He confirmed it did have a valid MOT test certificate, as it had expired four weeks earlier.
Croft was also in breach of a disqualification from the road, after receiving a suspended prison sentence for dangerous driving, also at Durham Crown Court, in August 2023.
(Image: The Northern Echo) The defendant, of Tyne Street, Seaham, was said to have 16 convictions for 32 offences, with the 2023 offences resulting in him being banned from the road for two years and having to pass an extended re-test to lawfully drive again.
Albany Kidd, prosecuting, said he has since been fined £100 for non-compliance with the order and banned for a further 28 months for failing to provide police with a breath specimen and no insurance, the latter offences committed prior to the dangerous driving case of 2023.
Croft admitted the latest offences, driving while disqualified, without insurance and not having a valid MOT certificate, at a magistrates’ court hearing last month.
The case was sent to be sentenced at the crown court as it put him in breach of the 2023 suspended sentence order.
Sophie Allinson-Howells, for Croft, said the Probation Service confirmed the defendant complied with all the other elements of the 2023 sentence, including an unpaid work requirement.
She said it was simply a matter now for Judge Nathan Adams to decide if the suspended sentence should be activated, or if he was minded to give the defendant “one last chance”.
Miss Alinson-Howells added: “He is employed and could pay a financial penalty.
“It’s enormously regrettable that he’s thrown away all the good work by driving.
“He would willingly comply with any order your honour passes.”
(Image: The Northern Echo) Judge Adams told Croft: “You fall to be sentenced for driving while disqualified when you weren’t insured and had no valid test certificate.
“There’s no suggestion your driving was impaired or dangerous, other than you should not have been behind the wheel at all.
“It was made plain to you previously and you were fully aware that the ban was in place and what the likely consequence would be if you did drive.
“You engaged well with the 150 hours’ unpaid work and the rehabilitation activity sessions and tackled your drug addiction.
“So, you did the hard part, and you failed by stupidly deciding to drive to work.
“I have to decide if it would be unjust to activate the prison sentence.
“This was more stupidity on your part rather than causing an active danger.
“I will give you a further chance, but there won’t be any more chances after that.”
See more court stories from The Northern Echo by clicking here
Don’t miss out on the latest news and stories. Subscribe to the Northern Echo by clicking here
He imposed a 12-month community order with 80 further hours of unpaid work and another 15 rehabilitation activity sessions overseen by the Probation Service,
Judge Adams also banned Croft from driving for a further two years and when the disqualification expires, the defendant must still pass an extended re-test to be allowed to lawfully drive in future.
As Croft was about to leave the dock, Judge Adams added: “Stay out of trouble completely, do the unpaid work and rehabilitation activity and there will be no further problems.”