A DISQUALIFIED driver who has never passed his test fell foul of the law on a visit to the Lake District.

Karl Best, 21, was stopped by police on July 2 in Windermere after he drove his Subaru Impreza while serving a ban and having no insurance, South Cumbria Magistrates' at Kendal heard.

Best, of Blackburn Road, Accrington, pleaded guilty to driving uninsured and while disqualified.

The court heard how Best, who had only bought the vehicle a few days earlier, had been given a six-month ban in February for another driving offence. That was due to expire on August 1.

In mitigation Chris Evans said: "There was a degree of naivety on his part in buying a motor vehicle when his ban had not expired, but he believed it had."

Best was given a 12-months community order to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work and issued with a further nine-month ban. He was also ordered to pay costs of £85 and a victim surcharge or £85.

Chairman of the bench Peter Benning told Best: "Let me tell you, you have learnt a lesson. If you drive again in the next nine months that will be your second driving while disqualified and the likely outcome of that is prison."