A 36-year-old father from Cardiff was caught driving while disqualified and without insurance in London by officers on patrol. Tony Mario Williams was stopped by police officers who then determined that he had no insurance.
Williams appeared in Cardiff Magistrates' Court wearing a blue Nike sweatshirt and tracksuit bottoms to face charges. The court heard how an "error of judgement" led to Williams getting behind the wheel of a grey Seat Altea before being stopped by police.
Williams now faces a fine and a further ban from driving. A previous disqualification was due to finish in May of this year.
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Williams, who spoke only to confirm his name and address, was charged with driving whilst disqualified and without insurance. The court heard how Williams was stopped by officers in Endsleigh Road, Camden, on the evening of January 28, 2022.
Prosecutor Hannah Friedman told the court that upon being stopped the self-employed labourer admitted to officers that he had been driving without insurance. Officers then discovered that Williams was also disqualified from driving at this time following a previous conviction.
Williams' solicitor Abhinav Mohindru noted that the defendant had pleaded guilty at the first opportunity but accepted that magistrates had to take into account his prior convictions. The court heard that Mr Williams was previously convicted of driving while disqualified back in 2017.
Mr Mohindru told the court that Williams had wrongly believed his disqualification period was finished. He said: "It is a very poor error of judgement in Mr Williams' case."
Williams, of Railway Street, Splott, admitted both charges. He was issued with a 12-month community order including 10 days of rehabilitation activities. He was also fined £300 and banned from driving for an additional six months. Williams' original ban would have ended in May 2022.
