A MAN has been warned that if he drives a car while he is disqualified he will go to prison.

Arek Nowicki (41), of Church Street, Enniskillen, appeared in court on Monday for sentencing on charges of driving while disqualified and using a motor vehicle with no insurance.

On April 12, police on mobile patrol in Enniskillen stopped a Kia Sportage on the Dublin Road at around 8.45pm.

Nowicki confirmed he was the owner of the car but when asked for insurance details he did not have any, and it further transpired that he had been disqualified from driving in February for six months at Magherafelt Magistrates Court.

The defendant was taken to Omagh and his car was seized.

During interview, Nowicki made full admissions and was charged with the two offences, to which he made no reply.

‘Blatant breach’

Ciaran Roddy, a barrister for Nowicki, said the “blatant breach” has to be accepted but pointed out that the defendant’s circumstances had changed leading up to the incident.

The week prior he had been effectively made homeless, according to Mr. Roddy, and had been residing in his car.

Mr. Roddy went on to say that his client had been committing the offence of no insurance if he was driving the car in public places, but it went beyond that and driving the vehicle while disqualified was a more serious matter.

The court heard of Nowicki’s mental health issues and how he was living in a lorry in his employer’s yard with the hope of finding accommodation.

In sentencing, District Judge Steven Keown warned Nowicki: “If you get behind the wheel of a car again while disqualified you will be going to jail.”

Nowicki was handed a three-month prison sentence suspended for one year and was also banned from driving for one year.