A banned driver caught behind the wheel claimed he thought the disqualification had ended, a court has heard.
Ernestas Senulis had been handed a 20-month driving ban for a drink-driving offence, but told magistrates he thought it had been 12 months.
Senulis, 30, who "occasionally" works as a bouncer, had been stopped by police who were investigating him. CCTV footage showed him driving a company van on Hammerton Street in Burnley, the court was told. He had been convicted of a drink-driving offence in July last year.
The defendant admitted driving whilst disqualified on September 30th. He was given 100 hours unpaid work, must pay £85 in costs, an £85 victim surcharge, and has been banned for 10 months.
Senulis, who was not represented by a solicitor, told the court he was currently working for nothing. He said:
"Lots of people left because we didn't get paid for quite a few weeks. There are three of us left and we think we will get the money back, fingers crossed.
"At that time, I was a bit depressed and I thought the ban was 12 months, not 20 months."
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