A LOCHORE man landed himself in Court because he didn't realise he was still disqualified from driving 12 years later.

James Canning, 34, of Lochleven Road, had been disqualified due to a road traffic offence in April 2005 and on May 4 of this year police received a tip off that he was driving.

The next day officers observed Canning driving in Ballingry and when they advised him to stop, it was confirmed that he was banned.

He previously admitted that on May 5, on Kildownie Crescent and Westwood Crescent, being a person disqualified for holding or obtaining a licence to drive a motor vehicle, did drive a motor vehicle whilst so disqualified.

He also admitted to driving a motor vehicle without a policy of insurance.

Defence solicitor, Alexander Flett, said his client was banned from driving in 2005 until he passed his test.

"The car belonged to a friend and wanted to avoid being late home for his restriction of liberty order," he said.

"He could not ask his friend to drive because he was subject to a restriction of liberty order.

"There was some confusion on what the disqualification was supposed to be.

"He simply had not driven a car since his last offence in 2006 and it is his position that he was not aware he was still disqualified."

Sheriff Charles Macnair said: "I appreciate that there has been some gap from the last time you were disqualified and now.

"Despite the fact you were serving the second half of a custodial sentence at the time, I am just prepared to deal with this by a non-custodial sentence."

Canning will serve a restriction of liberty order for 11 months and two weeks.

He was also ordered to pay £375 fine and has been disqualified from driving for 58 months.