Reading Magistrates' Court: Thatcham motorist flouts driving ban – for eighth time

A MOTORIST who "takes the mickey" out of the law has been caught flouting a driving ban - for the eighth time.

The 49-year-old from Thatcham has repeatedly swerved a prison sentence, despite a lifetime ignoring court orders of disqualification.

In July 2019 this newspaper reported how Darren Nicholas Derwin, of Horne Road, grinned as he learned he would not be jailed for his latest offence at the time.

He was already subject to a suspended jail sentence for theft when police caught him driving while disqualified... for the seventh time.

But despite his appalling record, he walked from the dock at Reading Magistrates’ Court with another suspended sentence - even though he was already subject to one.

On that occasion a district judge remarked Mr Derwin "probably didn’t know what a driving licence was.”

His defence counsel had suggested his client had become mixed up about the date his latest ban ended.

The judge retorted: "You’re taking the mickey – he has ignored driving bans all his life.”

Turning to Mr Derwin, he added: “I’m going to impose a prison sentence. But I’m going to suspend it” – whereupon Mr Derwin turned to a companion in the public gallery and grinned.

The judge sentenced Mr Derwin to 16 weeks imprisonment, but suspended it for 18 months.

In addition, he banned him from driving for another three years.

As Mr Derwin left the dock there was a commotion as his companion remonstrated with the judge for imposing a fresh driving ban, telling him: “This is a joke. I’m trying to get him back on the straight and narrow and now you’ve banned him again.”

In addition to the ban and suspended sentence, Mr Derwin was ordered to pay £85 costs, plus a statutory victim services surcharge of £115.

But on Monday, March 29, Mr Derwin was back in the dock at Reading Magistrates' Court.

There, he admitted his eighth offence of driving while disqualified.

He further admitted driving a silver Vauxhall Corsa on Brimpton Road, Brimpton Common, on January 25 without insurance on the same occasion.

Yet again, the court ordered pre-sentence reports to be prepared on an 'all options' basis, including custody.

Mr Derwin was meanwhile released on unconditional bail.