A DRIVER convicted of drink-drive offences has been jailed and had his Mercedes destroyed after driving off from the court which issued him with a ban.

Jordache Williamson was convicted at Hastings Magistrates’ Court on 26 April of failing to provide a specimen of blood for analysis when suspected of having driven a Mercedes C200 in Eastbourne on February 5.

He was given a 16-month ban and sentenced to a 12-month community order, requiring him to carry out 60 hours of unpaid work. He was also ordered to pay £50 costs and a £85 victim surcharge.

The hearing was held in his absence, but he attended court afterwards to collect the paperwork which clearly stated he was prohibited from driving from this point forward.

Officers had even written “do not drive” in biro on the form.

Despite this, Williamson left the court building and was witnessed by a Roads Policing Unit officer getting into the same car and driving off.

He was stopped in nearby Sedlescombe Road North, St Leonards, and the document was discovered on the front seat.

The 27-year-old, of Lodge Lane, Romford, Havering, London, was subsequently arrested and charged with driving while disqualified, driving without insurance and committing an offence while subject to a community order.

Williamson was remanded in custody to appear at Brighton Magistrates’ Court the following day where he was jailed for eight weeks, given an 18-month driving ban and ordered to pay a £115 victim surcharge.

The court also ordered his Mercedes C200 to be forfeited and destroyed.