Uninsured driver showed "callous disregard" for law

Friday 18 November 2022

A 52-year-old who was caught behind the wheel without insurance five times has been sent to prison.

Marco Paulo Varela was sentenced to four months behind bars, and handed a 12-month driving ban, by Assistant Magistrate Peter Harris this week.

The Magistrate's Court heard that Varela bought a car in January. On 24 May, it was noticed parked in Beach Road in St. Saviour without a valid windscreen insurance disc.

Valera admitted driving without insurance and without displaying a windscreen insurance disc.

He also admitted failing to register the vehicle as his, and failing to provide registration documents when asked for them by police.

Pictured: Mr Valera's lawyer asked for a community service order, but the Assistant Magistrate refused.

Advocate Luke Sette, prosecuting, told the court that Valera had four previous convictions for driving without insurance, dating from January 2007, January 2017, August 2018 and February 2020.

Advocate James Bell, defending, asked for a community service order instead of prison.

He said: "Mr Valera wishes to apologise for this serious error of judgment.

"He is aware that he has put himself in jeopardy."

Advocate Bell added that there had been some confusion over the insurance status of the vehicle, as the previous owner had paid her insurance by standing order and did not appear to have cancelled it after she had sold it to Valera.

He said to Assistant Magistrate Peter Harris: "I do ask that you give him a chance today."

But Mr Harris replied: "He was given a chance. He appeared to show callous disregard to the legal requirement to have insurance.

"I cannot see how a custodial sentence can be avoided."

As well as the prison sentence, Valera was banned from driving for 12 months.