A Buckie man’s driving ban has been extended after he used his work van to pick up a bag of dog food from a shop.
Jan Smith was prohibited from getting behind the wheel last February, and his one-year punishment period was due to end within weeks.
But the 44-year-old took a “foolish risk” last month, when he hopped into his van to make a short trip to a nearby supermarket.
After admitting the offence yesterday at Elgin Sheriff Court, his ban was increased until October.
Fiscal, Alex Swain, said the police’s automatic number plate recognition technology detected Smith’s van being driven along Buckie’s East Church Street on Saturday, December 10.
Officers went to his home on St Peter’s Terrace in time to see him returning in the vehicle.
Smith admitted charges of driving while disqualified and driving a vehicle without insurance.
His lawyer, Brent Lockie, said his client had gone out to buy “a big, heavy bag of dog food”.
He added: “It has to be said that the bag was not so heavy that he couldn’t have carried it.
“But he foolishly succumbed to the temptation to use the van, which was a somewhat ill-considered decision.”
Sheriff James Tierney ordered Smith to complete 70 hours of unpaid work in the next six months, disqualified him from driving for a further eight months, and fined him £300.