Serial driving offender warned he could face jail time

Thursday 02 March 2023

A 40-year old man with previous convictions for driving while disqualified and without insurance has admitted doing so again because he couldn't get his dad to give him a lift – and has been warned he could be jailed.

The Magistrate’s Court heard that Glen Thomas Cabot drove his silver Ford Minivan along Rue de Haut in St. Brelade on 30 August during a period in which he was banned from driving.

He was also found to have no insurance for the vehicle.

Crown Advocate Lauren Taylor, prosecuting, said Cabot had been disqualified from driving in 2008 for three years – his second conviction for the offence.

The period of that ban lapsed but he failed to retake his driving test, a condition imposed as part of his sentence, meaning he remained disqualified. His latest offence also marked the fourth time he had been caught driving without insurance.

Cabot told the court that he had had to collect work tools from a friend’s house and had been hoping his father would drive him there.

He said: "I couldn’t find my dad, so I just took the van. I had no other option."

The Magistrate, Bridget Shaw, told him: "You do have a history of similar offences. The starting point is custody.

"Where there is a history, the courts may consider it a more serious offence."

Cabot appeared in court without legal representation. Mrs Shaw decided to adjourn sentencing until 4 April to allow a background report to be prepared and advised him: "I think it is important that you are represented by an advocate.

"Make sure you get in touch with an advocate in the meantime."

He was released on bail.