A motorist was caught behind the wheel of a car just two months after he was disqualified from driving.
Graham Eden was banned from the roads on September 10 for an offence of drink driving and was ordered not to drive for 14 months.
However the 29-year-old was stopped in a Vauxhall Corsa on Northumbrian Way, in Cramlington, on November 7.
At South East Northumberland Magistrates' Court, Eden, of Southway, South Denton, Newcastle, pleaded guilty to two charges - driving whilst disqualified and without insurance.
Prosecutor Laura Lax said: "Officers saw a Vauxhall Corsa being driven on Northumbrian Way. They spoke to the driver.
"At the time, he was arrested on suspicion of an unrelated offence and taken to custody.
"The following day, checks showed he was a disqualified driver and had no insurance for that vehicle."
When he was interviewed by a probation officer, Eden said "his head was all over the place" at the time of the offence.
The defendant "fully understood he did wrong" and showed remorse for his actions, the court heard.
It was also said he had been feeling stressed over personal problems and had struggled with mental health difficulties.
Magistrates banned him from driving for 16 months and handed him a 12-month community order with rehabilitation activities.
Eden was also ordered to pay a £120 fine and £175 in court costs.
