A BANNED driver was so desperate to prevent the police catching him at the wheel that he climbed into the back seat while his Transit van was still moving.

Alexander Stewart was visiting Dawlish with his partner and three children in November when police tried to stop the van and he drove off.

Officers followed the van to Exeter where it eventually pulled over and stopped as Stewart vacated the driver’s seat and his partner slid into it.

His manoeuvre meant that there was nobody at the controls of Transit for a short time before his partner slowed it to a stop in Lethbridge Road, Exeter. Stewart, aged 42, of Spirewic Avenue, Skegness, Lincolnshire, admitted dangerous driving and driving while disqualified when he appeared at Exeter Crown Court.

He was ordered to do 60 hours of rehabilitation activities under a community order and was banned from driving for a year with a compulsory extended retest by Recorder Mr David Chidgey.

He told him: “The dangerous driving was over a relatively short distance and at low speed. There was some danger but I am satisfied it was relatively modest.

“The aggravating factors are that it was done to avoid being caught, there were children in the vehicle, and your record of previous driving offences.” Mr Michael Brown, prosecuting, said police followed the van from Dawlish to Exeter at 6.10 pm on November 10, 2022, because they suspected the driver was banned.

Stewart climbed out of the driver’s seat and into the back and was replaced by his partner shortly before the Transit was stopped. He admitted the manoeuvre but otherwise made no comment in interview.

He was banned from driving because he had been disqualified for a year in April 2022 for having too many points on his licence.

Police noticed a strong smell of cannabis in the van and seized a small amount from Stewart, who has already been fined by magistrates after admitting personal possession.

Mr William Parkhill, defending, said Stewart has already spent almost two months in prison since his arrest and is keen to have the case disposed of.

He is keen to work with probation to avoid further offending.