Banned motorcyclist who crashed near Ludlow is jailed (From Ludlow Advertiser)

Banned motorcyclist who crashed near Ludlow is jailed

12:19pm Tuesday 8th January 2013 in News

A MAN with 23 convictions for driving while disqualified has been jailed after he crashed a motorbike near Ludlow.

Evan Edwards, aged 42, was seriously injured when he came off his Honda on the A4110 at Adforton last July.

Edwards – who had been banned from driving just seven days earlier– was riding to Kington sell the bike when he suffered severe head injuries.

He was airlifted to Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham for treatment. At Hereford Magistrates Court last Friday, Douglas Marshall, prosecuting, told the bench Edwards had 74 offences on his record, including 23 convictions for driving while disqualified.

He was banned for two years in February 2010, but broke the law in June last year when he got back behind the wheel before taking a retest.

Marilena Di Vitantonio, defending, told the court Edwards, of Telford, Shropshire, decided to sell the bike to get rid of temptation and had arranged for a friend to drive. But when the friend did not show up, made the “foolish decision” to drive himself to Herefordshire.

“He said before he couldn’t care less but it was on the last occasion he made a conscious effort not to ride the bike again,” said Miss Di Vitantonio.

“In his own words, it is time he grew up. His partner is pregnant. He wants to support her and their children.”

Miss Di Vitantonio asked magistrates to adjourn the case for medical reports, but after a short deliberation the bench pressed ahead with sentence – jailing Edwards for 32 weeks in total – activating a 16 week suspended sentence and adding another 16 weeks for driving while disqualified in Herefordshire.

He was banned for a further three years and must reapply for a licence before he can drive again.