A BANNED driver who went on a mercy mission to buy some painkillers for his partner when she suffered a medical episode has been given a 13 month driving ban after being caught by the police.

Luis Moreira had been given the disqualification for a previous drink driving offence, but when his partner became ill and needed her medication he decided to chance it and drove her car to the pharmacy in Chard to save time.

However police were on duty when they received intelligence about the vehicle, and further checks revealed the defendant’s conviction.

Moreira, 46, of Langdon Close, Chard, pleaded guilty to driving a Hyundai Coupe while disqualified in Holyrood Street on November 25 last year.

He also admitted driving without insurance when he appeared before Somerset Magistrates.

Prosecutor Emma Lenanton told the court at Yeovil that officers were on patrol at 3.45pm when they received an intelligence marker against a Hyundai vehicle being driven in Chard.

“They stopped it on Holyrood Street and found that Moreira was the driver and a check on the police national computer revealed he was a disqualified driver,” she said.

“He was interviewed at the roadside and admitted that he knew what he was doing was wrong.”

She said that Purchase was given a two year ban on October 25, 2016 for an offence of driving with excess alcohol.

Defending solicitor Joseph Wright said that his client was just over halfway through his disqualification and expressed his remorse at the side of the road.

“He was driving from his house to the pharmacy which would have been a 20 minute walk,” he explained.

“He decided to do this as he partner suffers from health problems and on this day she had a neurological attack and needed her medication.

“She was having an acute attack so the defendant made the decision to get into her car, however he knows he should have walked instead.

“He did it to save about half an hour, but he now very much regrets it.”

Chair of the bench, Judy Watson, said: “You made a very poor decision and we are sympathetic to your partner, but you mustn’t drive, whatever the circumstances.”

They imposed a 13 month driving ban and fined Purchase £319 with £85 costs and a £31 victim surcharge.